PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — On Monday, the highest-ranking U.S. Army officer in the Asia-Pacific region visited Cambodia in a move aimed at rekindling the strained diplomatic and military ties between the two nations.
The two-day mission led by General Ronald P. Clark, the commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, comes amidst challenges in relations, as the U.S. has consistently criticized the Cambodian government for its approach to political freedom and human rights issues.
An additional focal point of concern is Cambodia’s growing relationship with China. Observers from the U.S. and other countries have raised alarms about potential exclusive access granted to the Chinese navy at the Ream base along the Gulf of Thailand, potentially enhancing China’s ability to exert influence from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.
China plays a pivotal role as Cambodia’s primary ally and significant economic supporter, which has resulted in deepening economic interdependencies.
During his meeting with General Clark, Cambodian military chief General Mao Sophan highlighted various topics, including defense collaboration, trade, tourism, cultural exchanges, counterterrorism efforts, peacekeeping missions, and the recovery of missing American service members from the Vietnam War era.
The agenda also touched upon the potential revival of the joint military exercises known as Angkor Sentinel, which have not been convened since 2016.
Prime Minister Hun Manet remarked that General Clark expressed admiration for Cambodia’s contributions to international peacekeeping through the dispatch of troops to various global missions.
In response, Hun Manet conveyed gratitude toward the U.S. for its assistance in the effort to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the conflicts that persistently affected Cambodia until the end of the 1990s, resulting in an estimated 4 to 6 million unexploded devices remaining in the country.
