Cambodia & Diplomacy: Farewell to diplomat Jacques Pellet, from first love to final posting
- Editorial team
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
Diplomat Jacques Pellet, French Ambassador to Cambodia since 2021, will experience his last official Bastille Day on Monday during the National Day celebrations. His departure marks not only the end of a personal journey, but also the closing of a chapter in the complex and often passionate relationship between France and Cambodia.
From first love to final posting
The bond between Jacques Pellet and Cambodia is more than professional; it is deeply personal. In his own words, Cambodia was both his “first and last posting,” a rare symmetry in the itinerant life of a diplomat.
His career began in the mid-1990s at the Quai d'Orsay, where he worked in the Cambodia office during the period of hope that followed the Paris Peace Accords. Those years were marked by a desire for reconstruction, and Jacques Pellet, then a young diplomat, was swept up in the optimism and urgency of Franco-Cambodian rapprochement.
His first assignments in Phnom Penh left a lasting impression on him. “A diplomat never forgets his first love,” he once said in an interview, recalling the pride he felt when accompanying King Sihanouk on a state visit to Paris in 1996.
The erudite diplomat: a sinologist in the Mekong
Mr. Pellet's intellectual curiosity and passion for Asia were forged in the lecture halls of the Institut d'études politiques in Grenoble, then in the classrooms of Geneva and Beijing, where he immersed himself in the Chinese language and culture. This academic rigor and regional expertise would become the hallmarks of his diplomatic style: thoughtful, analytical, and always attentive to the nuances of local history and culture.
Before his appointment in Phnom Penh, Jacques Pellet was the personal envoy of the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross for China and head of the ICRC's regional delegation for East Asia. These roles allowed him to deepen his understanding of the humanitarian complexities and challenges in the region.
Arrival in Phnom Penh: a mandate for renewal
When Jacques Pellet arrived in Cambodia at the end of 2021, the world was still reeling from the pandemic and Cambodia was seeking its path between recovery, political transition and economic uncertainty. Mr. Pellet's mission was clear: to renew and deepen the Franco-Cambodian partnership, honoring the weight of history while charting the way forward.
He succeeded Eva Nguyen Binh, an exceptional diplomat and a dynamic force in Franco-Cambodian relations, and quickly set about building bridges, not only between the two governments, but also between businesses, civil society, and culture.
The French community: stability amid change
One of Mr. Pellet's top priorities was the French community in Cambodia, a diverse and dynamic group of between 5,000 and 7,000 people, including registered and unregistered residents. Under his leadership, the embassy became a center for consular support, cultural exchange, and dialogue, particularly during the period of uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.
Mr. Pellet's approach was pragmatic but empathetic. He was aware of the particular challenges faced by expatriates, entrepreneurs, and NGOs, and worked tirelessly to make their voices heard in Phnom Penh.
Bilateral relations
The Pellet years will be remembered as a new but discreet revitalization of Franco-Cambodian relations. While the newspapers focused mainly on official visits and trade agreements, the real story unfolded in the context of steadily expanding cooperation in key sectors:
Security and national defense: France and Cambodia deepened their security cooperation, notably through training programs and joint initiatives to combat transnational threats.
Energy and infrastructure: French expertise played a key role in promoting sustainable development in Cambodia, from drinking water access projects to partnerships in renewable energy.
Culture and education: The French Institute and other cultural institutions have flourished, promoting the French language, the arts, and academic exchanges. Mr. Pellet has consistently championed the cause of the French-speaking world, which he considers an essential vehicle for the future.
Public health: In the context of the pandemic, France has provided vital support to the Cambodian health sector, including vaccine donations, grants to associations, and technical assistance.
Mr. Pellet's vision was to go “beyond historical relations” and seek new avenues of cooperation based on mutual respect and shared aspirations.
The importance of French
Jacques Pellet consistently expressed a very positive and committed vision of the French language and Francophonie. He repeatedly emphasized that Francophonie was thriving, with 320 million French speakers worldwide, making French the fifth most spoken language and the second most learned foreign language.
For Mr. Pellet, French is an essential vehicle for Franco-Cambodian relations, rooted in history, particularly thanks to the founding role of King Norodom Sihanouk in the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
During his visit, he constantly emphasized the importance of continuing to promote the teaching of French in Cambodia, particularly among the younger generations, stressing that French is both a language of memory (access to historical archives) and a language of the future opening up career opportunities, as evidenced by the strong presence of French speakers in the current Cambodian government.
The ambassador also repeatedly mentioned Cambodia's plan to host the 20th Francophonie Summit in 2026, a major event that will enhance the country's visibility in the French-speaking world and Asia. He highlighted French as a language of cultural diversity, cooperation, peace, democracy, and human rights, values that the French-speaking world defends in a world often marked by conflict.
Finally, Jacques Pellet emphasized the role of French in various areas of Franco-Cambodian cooperation, particularly in heritage, higher education, sustainable development, defense, and the participation of French-speaking Cambodian peacekeepers in international missions, insisting on France's continued support for Francophone education in Cambodia, for example through dedicated funds enabling teachers to train in France.
“I would like to remind you that French is a wonderful vehicle for intellectual debate and scientific research, but also for job creation. And I believe that this is a subject of great interest to Cambodia,” he said in 2024 during the celebration of International Francophonie Day, adding:
"We have also increased our support for French-language education in Cambodia, notably through a dedicated fund that has enabled many teachers to benefit from internships in France. I also believe that it is important to promote the teaching of French to younger generations... French is in fact a language of memory. Anyone interested in the history of this country will at some point have to learn French, because many of its archives are in French, whether for heritage purposes or for many other reasons.“
”It is an important language of memory, but it is also, of course, a language of the future for young people, because I believe that speaking French should also open up career opportunities."
Human rights
This was a recurring theme in his speeches: Jacques Pellet considers human rights to be a universal and fundamental element of contemporary diplomacy. In his view, the establishment of international human rights standards serves the essential purpose of protecting individuals around the world, reflecting a commitment to defending these principles through diplomatic channels.
Mr. Pellet's diplomatic approach recognizes that human rights work is complex and cross-cutting, requiring sustained attention and cooperation in various areas, including health, development, and peacekeeping.
In his public statements, Mr. Pellet has condemned violations of human rights and international law, such as Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, which he has described as a war crime and a crime against humanity. For the diplomat, human rights are inseparable from peace and security, and diplomacy must firmly combat violations while supporting self-defense under the United Nations Charter.
Mr. Pellet's view is part of a broader vision that human rights diplomacy today operates in a polarized international context, where competing paradigms, such as democracy and development, challenge the consensus. Despite this, he considers diplomacy to be an essential tool for forging alliances, building consensus, and mobilizing multilateral institutions to promote respect for human rights standards.
“While diplomacy must deal with realpolitik and national interests, it remains essential for advancing human rights through negotiation, advocacy, and cooperation.”
Jacques Pellet therefore considers human rights to be an essential pillar of modern diplomacy, indispensable to peace and security, requiring principled but pragmatic diplomatic engagement.
The Cambodian perspective
Mr. Pellet's departure did not go unnoticed by Cambodian officials. During his farewell visits, Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen expressed their deep gratitude for his “dedicated efforts to strengthen and expand relations and cooperation between Cambodia and France.” They praised his commitment to dialogue, his understanding of Cambodian realities, and his ability to navigate the delicate balance between history and progress.
Hun Manet particularly highlighted Mr. Pellet's role in facilitating Cambodia's participation in the Third United Nations Conference on Oceans in Nice, France, which symbolized the two countries' shared commitment to global environmental issues.
Civil society and the way forward
Mr. Pellet's mandate was not without challenges. He spoke candidly about the challenges faced by Cambodian civil society, the importance of constructive dialogue, and the need to remain vigilant in defending human rights and democratic values.
Aware that diplomacy is as much about listening as it is about speaking, he urged both sides to “never take their relationship for granted.”
He also reflected on the evolving nature of France's presence in Cambodia. No longer defined solely by historical ties, this relationship now encompasses a dynamic mix of commercial, cultural, educational and human exchanges, although he frequently argued that more French companies should invest in Cambodia because of its strategic position within ASEAN.
“Cambodia will always remain in my heart”
Jacques Pellet expressed his sincere gratitude to the Cambodian people and government for their support and friendship.
“Cambodia will always remain in my heart,” he said, emphasizing that the Kingdom had left a lasting impression on him as a diplomat and as a human being.
He leaves behind a legacy of quiet diplomacy, intellectual rigor, and sincere affection for the country. For many in Phnom Penh, his departure is a reminder of the fleeting nature of diplomatic missions, but also of the lasting bonds that can be forged.
The legacy: building the future
As Cambodia and France look to the future, Mr. Pellet's legacy offers a roadmap based on respect, dialogue, and a shared commitment to progress. The challenges ahead are real: geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and the ongoing need for reconciliation with the past. But the foundations laid during Mr. Pellet's tenure are solid, and it is to be hoped that the spirit of cooperation he cultivated will endure.
The discreet power of diplomacy
In the grand scheme of international affairs, the departure of an ambassador may seem like a minor event. But in the quiet corridors of embassies and the bustling streets of Phnom Penh, these moments matter. They remind us that diplomacy is not just about treaties and protocols, but above all about people and the patient, persistent work of building trust, understanding, and hope.
Jacques Pellet leaves Cambodia with the quiet satisfaction of a job well done and the certainty that he has contributed, in his own way, to writing a new chapter in the history of two nations linked forever by history, memory, and the promise of a shared future.
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