US Navy Warship to Visit Cambodia for First Time in Eight Years

The USS Savannah's port call highlights renewed military cooperation between the US and Cambodia, despite tensions over China's influence in the region.

• 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.

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