Overview

• The USS Savannah, a littoral combat ship with 103 crew members, will dock in Sihanoukville from December 16 to 20 at the request of the US.
• The visit is part of efforts to strengthen US-Cambodia relations and includes meetings with local officials and the commander of the controversial Ream Naval Base.
• The Ream Naval Base has been a source of US concern due to its potential use by Chinese military forces, despite Cambodian denials of such agreements with China.
• Cambodia's constitution prohibits foreign military bases, but ongoing Chinese construction at the Ream site has fueled speculation about Beijing's strategic ambitions in the region.
• This visit follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's June talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, signaling a push to revitalize military cooperation between the two nations.