De Gaulle's Anti-War Speech in Phnom Penh: Criticizing US Involvement in Vietnam War

Charles de Gaulle, the President of France, delivered a speech in Phnom Penh that sharply criticized the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and called for their withdrawal. At the time, the United States was heavily engaged in the conflict in Vietnam, with over 400,000 troops deployed and significant financial and military resources committed. De Gaulle's speech sought to highlight the futility and destructive nature of the ongoing war and promote a vision of peace and self-determination for the nations involved. De Gaulle's speech came at a time when global dissent against the Vietnam War was growing. In North America and Europe, public opinion was becoming increasingly critical of the war’s human costs and its geopolitical repercussions. De Gaulle's critique aligned with this growing anti-war sentiment, adding a powerful voice from a prominent European leader to the international discourse. In his address, de Gaulle emphasized the principles of sovereignty and non-interference, arguing that