According to Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, the Cambodian Defense Ministry has announced that the U.S. Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah, along with 103 crew members, will dock at the Ream Naval Base for five days. The visit to the base, which is located in the Gulf of Thailand, will include meetings between U.S. military personnel and the Cambodian base commander as well as local provincial officials.
It is rumored that Cambodia signed a deal in 2019 allowing China to establish a permanent presence at the port where the Ream Naval Base is located. The agreement with China reportedly grants the Chinese military exclusive use of some parts of the naval base. Cambodian authorities have repeatedly denied the existence of such an agreement and said the establishment of foreign military bases on its territory would constitute a violation of its national sovereignty. This is the first time that a U.S. warship will visit the Cambodian base since that time in 2019. The United States has said that Ream Base will eventually become China’s foremost outpost in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Cambodian Defense Ministry’s latest statement said that the US warship’s visit will “strengthen and expand friendship and promote bilateral cooperation,” calling the visit a “milestone” in improving US-Cambodia relations.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, December 14, 2024
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/wencui/political/story20241214-5593498