US Warship Visit to Cambodia Base Shows Continued Warming Ties

By Philip J. Heijmans

Jan 24, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A US warship docked at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday for a five-day visit, signaling a continued thaw in military relations after years of tension over access to the strategic port in the Gulf of Thailand.

The USS Cincinnati, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, is the third foreign naval vessel to visit Ream since its upgrade and official reopening last year, according to Cambodian state media. During the visit, US and Cambodian naval officers will hold meetings and joint exercises focused on maritime security and operational coordination.

The visit underscores growing engagement between the two nations in recent years, including Washington lifting an arms embargo on the Southeast Asian nation, and plans to revive flagship military exercises for the first time in eight years. 

The US has long expressed concerns that Cambodia could grant Beijing exclusive access to Ream, a claim that Phnom Penh has played down. China nevertheless maintains use of some facilities, including the base’s largest pier, according to the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. 

Related Article: Dredgers Spotted Off Cambodian Base Where China’s Growing Influence Is Of Concern

The last US naval presence in Cambodia was in 2024, when the USS Savannah docked in nearby Sihanoukville, the first US port call in eight years. Last year, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the return of the Angkor Sentinel drills after a meeting with his Cambodian counterpart on the sidelines of a security summit in Malaysia.

Cambodia previously nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in easing border tensions with Thailand and was among the first countries to secure a coveted US trade deal last year amid Washington’s tariff threats.

The Department of Defense’s long-awaited National Defense Strategy, released Friday, directed the Pentagon to “maintain a favorable balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific.” The Trump administration’s annual defense strategy report took a softer tone toward China than in previous years, emphasizing deterrence “through strength, not confrontation.”

© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

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