For the first time in eight years, a US Navy warship is set to visit Cambodia, a very ‘close ally’ of China, according to an official statement from Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense.
The USS Savannah, a Littoral Combat Ship carrying a crew of 103, will dock at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand from December 16 to 20.
The Cambodian government stated that the visit, initiated by a US request, aims to “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation” between the two nations.
Although the United States has yet to officially confirm the visit, it marks a significant step forward in the historically turbulent relationship between the two nations.
The ship will not dock at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, a location that has been a point of US criticism due to concerns that it may be used by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as a military outpost.
However, the visit will include a working meeting with Ream’s commander, interactions with local officials, and cultural exchange activities such as a friendship sports competition between the US and Cambodian navies.
“The planned action plan includes a working meeting with the Commander of the Ream Sea Base, a working meeting with the Sihanoukville Provincial Administration, a friendly sports program between the crew of the United States Navy and the Cambodian Navy in order to promote Intimacy and group solidarity, as well as a number of friendly programs,” said Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense.
Since 2007, 27 US Navy vessels have visited Cambodia, but this marks the first time in nearly a decade that a US warship will dock in the country.
On December 11, Cambodia’s foreign ministry also acknowledged the “positive momentum of bilateral ties and cooperation,” noting the “reinvigoration” of military-to-military relations.
The visit follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s June trip to Cambodia, where he met with Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior officials. During that visit, Austin also met with Cambodian alumni of US military training programs.
China’s Role In Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base Continues To Concern The USA
The announcement of the USS Savannah’s port call in Cambodia is part of the United States’ broader strategy to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia.
Just last month, the US Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln—a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier—visited Port Klang, Malaysia, marking the first such visit in 12 years. These efforts aim to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
The US has expressed concerns over the upgrading of Cambodia’s naval base near Sihanoukville, fearing it could be used by Chinese vessels to further Beijing’s strategic interests.
The potential establishment of a Chinese naval base at Ream would grant China easier access to the Malacca Strait, a critical shipping route between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Ream Naval Base, located near Sihanoukville, became a focus of controversy in 2019 when reports suggested that Cambodia might allow China to use the base for 30 years, station military personnel, and berth warships.
However, Cambodia has consistently denied such claims and said that its constitution prohibits foreign military bases.
In October 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol reaffirmed Cambodia’s stance, stating that the base would not be used by China or any other military against another country. He clarified that once upgrades are complete, the base will be open to any navy but only for humanitarian, disaster recovery, or joint military exercises.
“The Ream Naval Base is not for the Chinese. The Chinese provided us with the assistance to expand the Ream Naval Base for our national defense, not to be used by the Chinese or any military against another country,” Sun said.
Before the commencement of upgrading works, Cambodia’s defense partners, including Japan, Russia, and the United States, frequently used Ream Naval Base for joint military exercises with the RCN.
A recent report by the Lowy Institute also suggests that China is unlikely to gain full control of the base due to limited strategic value and domestic political constraints in Cambodia.
The report pointed out, “It is unlikely that Ream Naval Base in Cambodia will be a Chinese military base or outpost such as the facility in Djibouti fully operated by the People’s Liberation Army. However, China could gain preferential access to the base or use its facilities there to collect intelligence against other states.”
Despite this, China has continued to support the base’s redevelopment and even sent warships there in 2023, which has increased US concerns about Beijing’s influence in the region.
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