US warship arrives in Cambodia for the first time in 8 years amid concerns over China's naval base
Kyiv • UNN
The USS Savannah docked in the port of Sihanoukville, not far from China's modernized Ream base. The visit takes place against the backdrop of China's growing influence in the region and the US attempts to restore military ties with Cambodia.
On Monday, a U.S. warship docked in Cambodia, just a few kilometers from a Chinese-renovated naval base, marking the first time the U.S. military has visited a port of one of Beijing's closest regional allies in eight years, UNN reports citing AFP.
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Washington's relations with Phnom Penh have been deteriorating for years, as China poured billions of dollars into infrastructure investments under former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, the publication points out.
AFP reporters saw Cambodian navy officials greeting the arrival of the USS Savannah in the southern port city of Sihanoukville on Monday.
USS Daniel A. Sledz said it was "great to be back, bringing a US presence back here after eight years," adding that his team was "very happy" to be welcomed by Cambodia.
Cambodia's Defense Ministry said on Friday that the five-day visit was aimed at "strengthening and expanding friendship" and "promoting bilateral cooperation.
Since 2022, China has been financing the reconstruction of the Ream Naval Base, located about 30 kilometers from Sihanoukville, which was originally built partly with US funds.
Washington has said that the Ream base could give Beijing a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which China almost entirely claims.
Cambodia's leaders have repeatedly denied that the base is intended for use by any foreign state.
Chinese warships first docked at the 363-meter pier last December. Two of them docked in Sihanoukville's port in May as part of Beijing's largest joint military exercises with Cambodia.
This year, the Chinese military unveiled machine-gun-armed "robots" at the annual joint exercise known as the Golden Dragon Exercise.
In early 2017, Cambodia abandoned similar joint exercises with the US forces that had been held over the previous seven years.
The Cambodian Ministry of Defense said that since 2007, 27 US Navy ships have visited the country, although the visit of the USS Savannah with 103 crew members was the first time it had called at the dock in eight years.
Senior officers of the ship will meet with the commander of the Ream base.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Cambodia in June to re-establish relations with staunch ally China.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon and Bridget Walker of the US Embassy last week welcomed the "revitalization" of military ties between the two countries.
