U.S. removes Cambodia from arms export “blacklist”

U.S. removes Cambodia from arms export “blacklist”

#National

In a landmark move, the U.S. Department of Commerce officially removed Cambodia from the arms export “blacklist” on February 3, 2026, signalling a significant thaw in military trade restrictions.

The change comes through the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which updated the Federal Register to remove Cambodia from “Country Group D:5,” a classification that had previously limited U.S. arms exports to the Kingdom.

The decision follows an assessment by the U.S. Secretary of State, who noted Cambodia’s active pursuit of regional peace and security, continued defence cooperation with the United States, and efforts to combat cross-border crime. The measure aligns with the White House’s prior action in October 2025, when the ban on arms sales to Cambodia was lifted.

Casey Barnett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham Cambodia), called the move a “strong symbol of U.S. confidence” in the country. Speaking from Singapore, where he was meeting with U.S. aviation and defence companies, Barnett said the change “opens the door for Cambodia to acquire advanced U.S. technologies that can support both its security and economic development.”

Under the new rule, the “X” designation next to Cambodia in Group D:5 has been removed, effectively ending the majority of U.S. arms-related restrictions from February 3 onwards. Experts estimate that the update could increase the number of licence applications for shipments to Cambodia by roughly 100 per year, streamlining previously complex export procedures.

However, for national security reasons, Cambodia remains in “Country Group D:1”, which continues to require licensing controls for certain military and defence-related technologies under Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Sections 744.21 and 744.22.

-Khmer Times-