Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in Mainland Southeast Asia. It shares borders with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. The country covers an area of approximately 69,898 square miles, which is roughly the same size as Missouri. Phnom Penh, with a population of about 2.5 million people (as of 2023), serves as the capital of Cambodia.

Cambodia is classified as a constitutional monarchy, consisting of a king and a prime minister, with the prime minister acting as the primary decision-maker.

Cambodia gained independence from colonial rule in 1953 during the Second World War. However, the Vietnam War extended into Cambodia through the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Sihanouk Trail from 1965 onward. In 1970, a coup installed a U.S.-aligned Khmer Republic, which was overthrown by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. The Khmer Rouge then ruled the country and was responsible for the Cambodian Genocide from 1975 to 1979, until they were removed from power during the Cambodian-Vietnamese War. Following this, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, backed by Vietnam, became the de facto government.

The 1991 Paris Peace Accord marked the end of the conflict with Vietnam, and Cambodia was governed by a United Nations mission from 1992 to 1993. After the 1993 general election in Cambodia, the UN withdrew. In 1997, a coup d'état consolidated power under Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Although Cambodia is constitutionally a multi-party state, the main opposition party was dissolved by the dominant CPP in 2017, effectively turning Cambodia into a one-party state. The United Nations designates Cambodia as a least developed country, indicating significant socioeconomic challenges.

Prime Minister Hun Sen served in his role for 38 years. In the 2023 general election, he was re-elected. However, just six days later, he resigned and transferred power to his son, Hun Manet. Currently, Hun Sen serves as the President of the Senate in Cambodia.