Cambodia's army announced Friday that it will resume joint military exercises with the United States early next year, marking a significant step in the countries' efforts to repair strained relations and enhance defense ties.
The joint drills, dubbed "Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027," are scheduled to begin in February, according to a statement from the Royal Cambodian Army. This decision follows a series of meetings between high-ranking officials from both nations aimed at improving bilateral relations, which had been complicated by Cambodia's close ties with China.
Cambodia had suspended joint military exercises with the U.S. in 2017. The upcoming exercise is intended to bolster interoperability and disaster-response capabilities, reflecting a renewed commitment to defense cooperation between the two countries.
Washington has previously expressed concerns regarding China's military presence at a Cambodian naval base on the Gulf of Thailand. The U.S. has voiced suspicions that China received special, undisclosed privileges at the base, which was upgraded with Beijing's assistance. Cambodian officials have consistently denied these claims.
In addition to defense matters, the U.S. has also voiced criticism of Cambodia's human rights record and the suppression of political dissent. These concerns have been raised in the context of legal actions against critics, which human rights groups attribute to the influence of Prime Minister Hun Manet's ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Earlier discussions on resuming military exercises took place on August 14, when Hun Manet met with Elbridge A. Colby, the U.S. Department of War's Under Secretary for Policy. Colby, the third-highest-ranking official at the War Department, discussed bilateral relations and defense matters with Hun Manet.
Following that meeting, Hun Manet expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Cambodia-U.S. relations and the progress made in preparing for the renewal of the Angkor Sentinel exercise. He also noted the ongoing cooperation in capacity-building for the Cambodian Armed Forces.
Hun Manet emphasized that such joint exercises and training not only enhance military capabilities but also serve as a crucial bridge for fostering close friendships between the armed forces of both nations.
Separately, 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, they discussed plans to reinstate a bilateral maritime exercise that was also suspended in 2017.