A US warship docked in Cambodia yesterday, just kilometers away from a Chinese-renovated naval base, in the first US military port call to one of Beijing’s closest regional allies in eight years.
Washington’s relationship with Phnom Penh has been deteriorating for years, with China pouring billions of dollars into infrastructure investment under former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen.
Reporters saw Cambodian navy personnel welcoming the arrival of the USS Savannah to the southern port city of Sihanoukville.
Photo: AFP
The ship’s commanding officer Daniel Sledz said that “it is great to be back, returning US presence here after eight years,” adding that his crew were “very pleased” to be hosted by Cambodia.
The US embassy posted a statement on social media saying that the combat ship is on a “goodwill visit” that aims to “boost US-Cambodia coordination and response to shared maritime security challenges.”
The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense on Friday last week said that the five-day visit aims to “strengthen and expand friendship,” and “promote bilateral cooperation.”
China since 2022 has been funding the renovation of the Ream naval base, about 30km from Sihanoukville, which was originally built partly using US funds.
Washington has said the Ream base could give Beijing a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety.
Cambodian leaders have repeatedly denied that the base is for use by any foreign power.
Chinese warships first docked at the 363m pier in December last year. Two berthed at Sihanoukville port in May as part of Beijing’s biggest joint military drills with Cambodia.
The Chinese military unveiled machine gun-equipped “robodogs” this year at the annual joint exercises, known as the “Golden Dragon” drills.
Cambodia in early 2017 scrapped similar joint exercises with US forces that had been held for the previous seven years.
The ministry said that 27 US Navy vessels have visited the nation since 2007, although the visit of the USS Savannah with 103 crew members was the first docking in eight years.
The ship’s senior officers are to meet with the Ream base’s commander.
Beijing yesterday responded to the US warship’s visit to Sihanoukville saying: “Such exchanges and collaborations in security and defense should contribute to promoting regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Cambodia in June to reset ties with the staunch China ally.
Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and the US embassy’s Bridgette Walker last week hailed the “reinvigoration” of military ties between the two nations.
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