Historic Ream Port call signals renewed Cambodia-US defence partnership

United States Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Samuel Paparo speaks at a press conference at Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province yesterday. KT/Chor Sokunthea

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Synopsis: US Indo-Pacific Command Chief Admiral Samuel Paparo says the docking of USS Cincinnati at the Cambodian naval base reflects Washington’s confidence in its deepening partnership with Phnom Penh to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Preah Sihanouk province – A landmark visit by a US Navy warship to Ream Naval Base (RNB) this week marked a significant step forward in Cambodia-United States relations, with the two nations announcing the resumption of the joint military exercise “Angkor Sentinel,” underscoring deepening defence cooperation and a shared commitment to regional peace and stability.

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati is docking at Ream Naval Base (RNB) for a five-day port visit that will last until January 28, carrying around 100 naval personnel. It is the first-ever US warship allowed to dock at the highest-security military port in Preah Sihanouk province. It is commanded by Cmdr Andrew Recame.

Speaking during a press briefing held at the pier of the naval base, next to US warships, Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, said he acknowledged the United States’ deep respect for its relationship with Cambodia, which now spans 76 years.

“All along the way, our Cambodian friends assured us that Ream would be a sovereign port. Accordingly, this is why USS Cincinnati’s visit is an expression of our confidence in Cambodia’s sovereignty and a good-faith expression of our partnership moving forward,” he said.

“Our partnership has been on a strong upward trajectory, having overcome the rigours of Covid-19 and now reaching the next level. There are many other maritime and joint opportunities for us to partner together. This, in conjunction with our work together on helping to resolve the border crisis, demonstrates the deep and growing partnership between the United States and Cambodia.

Moving forward, he said the US aims to deepen the partnership through mutual respect as both sides work to cultivate a free and open Indo-Pacific, where all nations, large and small, “can enjoy the fruits of investment, stability and security”.

Planning for Angkor Sentinel will begin in earnest in late February or early March, Admiral Paparo said.

“Our expectation is that we will conduct the exercise in the latter part of 2026 or the early part of 2027. We have yet to decide, but planning in earnest begins in about 30 days. Since 2006, there have been 37 port visits to Cambodia,” he said.

The annual Angkor Sentinel exercise, sponsored by the US Army Pacific Command, was launched in 2010 to strengthen military cooperation and enhance joint disaster response capabilities. The drills were suspended in 2017 amid strained relations between Phnom Penh and Washington, as Cambodia expanded its defence cooperation with China.

After an eight-year hiatus, the two countries began discussions last year on reviving the Angkor Sentinel exercise as part of broader efforts to rebuild trust and rebalance foreign relations. The talks followed a visit to Cambodia in December 2024 by Admiral Paparo, along with representatives of US Navy warship USS Savannah at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port.

Admiral Paparo said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has made known his ambition to visit Cambodia with a view towards friendship and mutual respect.

In a recent letter addressed to Prime Minister Hun Manet, US President Donald Trump invited Cambodia to become a founding member of what he described as the “Board of Peace”, an international organisation and transitional governing administration envisioned under his administration’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.

The initiative followed Trump’s September 29 announcement last year of a 20-point roadmap to end the Gaza conflict—a plan he said had been embraced by world leaders across the Arab world, Israel and Europe.

Yesterday morning, Mr Hun Manet received a courtesy call from Admiral Paparo, with the two sides holding discussions on matters of mutual interest amid a landmark US naval visit to Cambodia.

In a statement released by the Cabinet Office after the meeting, Mr Hun Manet said he had informed Admiral Paparo of Cambodia’s invitation from Trump to join the Board of Peace.

To a question from Khmer Times on whether Cambodia had committed to the Board of Peace, Admiral Paparo said the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest in strengthening the partnership.

“We did have a discussion on the US role in helping bring about peace in the border crisis,” he said. “The entire conversation was viewed through the prism of Cambodia and the United States as peace-loving nations wanting to work together towards regional peace and wherever we can cooperate.”

The meeting took place as the USS Cincinnati arrived at Ream Naval Base for a five-day port call lasting until January 28. The visit marks the first time a US Navy warship has docked at the base.

The USS Cincinnati, commanded by Cmdr Recame, has a personnel of 100. The port visit is seen as a significant step in strengthening military-to-military engagement and confidence-building between Cambodia and the United States.

The statement from the Cabinet Office said Admiral Paparo had expressed satisfaction with the progress of US-Cambodia relations, especially in defence cooperation.

He had thanked the Cambodian government for allowing a US Navy vessel to dock at Ream Naval Base, describing the port call as a clear reflection of deepening military ties between the two countries.

Mr Hun Manet, in turn, welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and said the US naval visit was a tangible outcome of improving Cambodia-US cooperation. He said he is confident that ties between the two countries would continue to strengthen and expand in the coming years.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister thanked Trump for his role in facilitating the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire in July last year followed by the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration in October.

The Prime Minister briefed the US side on recent developments along the Cambodia-Thailand border, reaffirming Cambodia’s firm commitment to the ceasefire and Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration, as well as its adherence to peaceful dispute resolution based on international law, existing treaties and agreements, with the aim of achieving a stable and lasting border.

In response, Admiral Paparo said President Trump continues to closely follow the Cambodia-Thailand border situation and the implementation of the peace deal, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

He reiterated the importance of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) and confirmed continued US support for the AOT mechanism as well as for accelerating the work of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) on border surveying and demarcation between the two countries.

In a statement yesterday, the US Embassy in Phnom Penh said that during the meeting, Mr Hun Manet and Admiral Paparo discussed the “US-Cambodian defence relationship and ways to strengthen bilateral ties and support regional stability”.

“The United States and Cambodia will work shoulder to shoulder to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.

As part of the visit, Admiral Paparo toured the Ream Naval Base yesterday, where he received an official welcome from National Defence Minister General Tea Seiha

The US and Cambodian national flags were raised at the naval base compound as naval officers from both countries conducted joint activities, including football programmes.

Following the reception, yesterday afternoon, Gen Seiha, Vice Admiral Tea Sokha, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy, Rear Admiral Mey Dina, Commander of Ream Naval Base, Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Mang Sineth, and other senior military officials boarded the US warship.

In the morning, Sineth received a courtesy call from commanding officer Cmdr Recame.

In his social media messages, Youk Chhang, Director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, said the US Navy’s brief port call was a welcome development that would contribute positively to US-Cambodian relations.

“However, it is unlikely to have much impact on the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute for the principal reason that this conflict is driven more by internal Thai politics and debate over the future of Thailand and its relations with its neighbours than anything else, and that any warming of ties between Phnom Penh and Washington could displace Thai-US relations,” he said.

-Khmer Times-