Key facts
- Cambodia will resume joint military exercises with the United States early next year.
- The "Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027" is scheduled for February.
- The joint drills were suspended in 2017.
- The exercises aim to strengthen interoperability and disaster-response capabilities.
- Recent high-level meetings between Cambodian and U.S. defense officials preceded the announcement.
Cambodia's army announced on Friday that it will resume joint military exercises with the United States early next year, following a suspension that began in 2017. The announcement, made via the Royal Cambodian Army's Facebook page, comes after recent high-level defense and official meetings aimed at improving bilateral relations.
The "Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027" is slated to take place in February, signaling progress in overcoming differences between the two nations, including U.S. concerns over Cambodia's close ties with China and alleged Chinese military presence at the Ream Naval Base. Cambodian officials have consistently denied these allegations.
The exercises are intended to bolster "interoperability and disaster-response capabilities," according to the army's statement, reflecting a renewed commitment to defense cooperation. The U.S. has previously voiced concerns about potential secret privileges granted to China at the Ream Naval Base, which Beijing helped upgrade.
In addition to defense matters, the U.S. has also expressed criticism regarding Cambodia's human rights record. Earlier, on August 14, Prime Minister Hun Manet held discussions with Elbridge A. Colby, the U.S. Under Secretary for Policy, focusing on bilateral relations and the resumption of military exercises. Hun Manet expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Cambodia-U.S. relations and progress on the Angkor Sentinel exercise.
Furthermore, U.S. Navy Admiral Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, met with Cambodian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Vong Pisen in August. During their meeting, plans to revive a bilateral maritime exercise, also suspended in 2017, were discussed.