President of the Cambodian Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has reacted against a columnist at the Diplomat over his comments on his recent meeting with U.S.’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director.
‘If you do not know Hun Sen well, please do not mess with Hun Sen,’ the senate president wrote on his social media networks.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that on June 12, 2024, David Hutt wrote in The Diplomat that CIA Director Bill Burns did not meet with him, as he mentioned a few days ago that he had spoken to the CIA director on June 2.
‘From what Hutt wrote, he thought I was mistaken. I should openly say that I worked with the CIA management since 1997,’ he underlined.
The most important meetings were with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper at the Phnom Penh city residence in 2011, CIA Director David Petraeus at the Phnom Penh city residence in 2012, and CIA Director Bill Burns at the Takhmao city residence in 2024.
In the absence of a face-to-face meeting, Samdech Techo
sent his representatives to meet the CIA leaders in Washington, including Mike Pompeo, who later became U.S. Secretary of State under President Donald Trump administration.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen added that the main cooperation is against terrorism, not against any country.
‘Cambodia also has intelligence cooperation with other countries, as this is the normal course of a sovereign state. When you see calm water, do not think that there are no fish in the water. When Hun Sen does not speak, do not think that Hun Sen does not know how to speak,’ said Samdech Techo Hun Sen.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse