Phnom penh: As global tensions mount, Cambodia's Senior Minister H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch delivered a sharp rebuttal to zero-sum geopolitics on Saturday, urging nations at the Dubrovnik Forum 2026 to choose cooperation over confrontation. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, speaking on a panel titled "Asia-Pacific in Motion: New Powers, Old Rivalries," the First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) warned that great-power competition must not come at the expense of smaller states. Drawing on Cambodia's own history, he insisted that sovereignty is best preserved through principled neutrality-balancing partnerships via mutual respect and tangible national interest, not blind alignment. H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch also highlighted the crucial role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in facilitating dialogue among regional powers. He underscored that diplomacy and confidence-building measures are essential tools for conflict prevention, trust cultivation, and bol stering regional resilience. Concluding his remarks, the Senior Minister asserted that the rapid development of the Asia-Pacific region should not be viewed as a threat, but rather as a prime opportunity for partnership, peace, and shared prosperity.