The US Navy’s warship USS Savannah arrived in Cambodia on Monday, its first visit in eight years, signaling a positive shift in relations between Cambodia and the United States.
When the USS Savannah, a powerful combat ship, brought a total of 103 sailors to dock at the Sihanoukville International Port, the ship and the American sailors were welcomed by the Cambodian side with smiles and flower garlands.
Daniel A. Sledz, commander of the USS Savannah, said in a brief speech that it was a great opportunity for the American ship to show its presence here again after an eight-year absence. The US Embassy also posted a message welcoming the arrival of the warship to Cambodia.
The embassy claimed that the USS Savannah is an effective coastal defense warship. It docked at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on December 16, the first visit by a U.S. Navy ship to Cambodia in eight years.
During the goodwill visit, the ship’s crew will engage in a series of activities with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, the USS Savannah’s naval counterpart, to promote coordination and response to shared maritime security challenges between the United States and Cambodia, the source said.
Separately, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense issued a statement stating that the docking of the US ship aims to strengthen and expand friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the United States.
Since the United States opened its embassy in Cambodia in 1994, diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the United States have been normal, but in general, the situation is not very good. The United States has always criticized Cambodia for its democracy and human rights record, and the last decade has added another geopolitical dimension.
The subject of American criticism on geopolitical issues has been the Cambodian naval base, which is a major issue. In particular, Cambodia’s opening up to aid to develop the Cambodian naval base in Ream.
Controversy over China’s activities in the region first emerged in 2019, when the Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of an agreement seen by US officials would allow China to use the base for 30 years, where it would be able to station military personnel, store weapons and warships.
After receiving this report, the Cambodian government immediately rejected such an agreement, but the hostility also began to heat up continuously, and the Cambodian government also explained and confirmed and confirmed that what Cambodia had done It is to modernize the Cambodian navy, and Cambodia does not allow foreign countries to use Cambodia as a foreign military base. In addition, the Royal Government, the Ministry of National Defense, as well as the Cambodian Navy commanders have also explained and explained this suspicion. Cambodia has clearly stated that Cambodia does not allow foreign military bases in the country and has announced that the door is open to all countries’ warships to enter there, including to conduct joint exercises with the Cambodian navy.
Despite the explanation, the hostility continues and Ream continues to be criticized, while the United States has also been closely monitoring the situation at the Ream naval base. The United States, especially geopolitical experts, continue to argue that the development of Cambodia’s Ream naval base, with Chinese assistance, near Sihanoukville, will serve Beijing’s strategic interests in the region. They argue that China could use the peninsula as a base with easy access to the Strait of Malacca, a key shipping route between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
During the eight-year absence of US warships, warships from other countries such as Australia, Japan and the UK have repeatedly stopped by to request a port call, but US officials remain skeptical. So hopefully the arrival of the USS Savannah will reduce this suspicion from Cambodia.
Before the ship’s arrival, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Cambodia in early June. During that visit, he met with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Defense Minister Tea Seiha, and Senate President Hun Sen.
The US Department of Defense said at the time that “Mr. Austin and Cambodia discussed opportunities to strengthen the US-Cambodia bilateral defense relationship in support of regional peace and security” and other issues. It was not until mid-December, with just 15 days left until the end of 2024, that the USS Savannah made its presence felt in Cambodia.
Overall, the presence of the USS Savannah can be considered a positive event in Cambodian-US relations as 2024 comes to a close, and it is hoped that the positive momentum in bilateral relations and cooperation between the two sides, especially in the field of national defense, will be further restored in 2025.
