Photo: MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
On December 15, the USS Savannah arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia for a five-day visit, marking the first U.S. port call in the country in eight years. The USS Savannah’s over 100 crewmembers, have a unique opportunity for person-to-person dialogue through formal and informal channels, including athletic competition.
The commanding officer of the ship, Commander Dan Sledz, noted the importance of this opportunity for engagement with local Cambodian leaders. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command will participate in the visit, which will include a bilateral meeting with the commander of Ream Naval Base.
The port call, made at the request of the United States, was well-received by the Cambodian Ministry of Defense. In its recent statement, it recognized U.S. efforts to “strengthen and expand” bilateral ties and bolster cooperation. This builds upon recent statements from the Ministry of Defense pointing out the “positive momentum” between the two countries following U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Cambodia in June and his sideline meetings with Cambodian deputy prime minister and defense minister Tea Shea in November.
Despite the United States’s attempt at rapprochement with Cambodia, the two countries share a rocky relationship with several points of contention: the United States remains concerned about human rights abuses within the country and branded its 2023 elections as “neither free nor fair.” Concerns remain about Cambodia’s narrowing press freedoms: on December 4, Chheong Chheng, an environmental journalist, was shot and killed while investigating illegal logging in Siem Reap province.
Also key among the United States’ concerns are Cambodia’s growing military and economic reliance on China. Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, near where the USS Savannah docked in Sihanoukville, has been a hub for Chinese naval activity. The development of the Cambodian base with Chinese assistance has sparked concern that the base could be used as a Chinese outpost. Cambodia denies this allegation, citing its unconstitutionality; however, concerns remain about Ream allowing China to expand its reach throughout the region and beyond.
China has previously been a significant investor in Cambodia; however, in 2024, China did not approve any loans. Though China maintained that its friendship with Cambodia remained “ironclad,” the lack of loans could betray some uncertainty within Beijing’s calculus toward Cambodia.
Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, influential in the crafting of his son Prime Minister Hun Manet’s foreign policy, expressed hope that U.S.-Cambodia ties could be strengthened under the incoming Trump administration. This port call, a critical first step in improving relations with Cambodia, widens the door for the incoming administration to build upon the Biden administration’s engagement. It is unclear, however, to what extent the Trump administration will have an appetite for boosting economic or defense ties.
