The United States and Cambodia are set to restart joint military exercises after a period of strained relations due to Phnom Penh's grow...
The United States and Cambodia are set to restart joint military exercises after a period of strained relations due to Phnom Penh's growing ties with China. Experts believe this step aims to foster essential diplomatic stability with Washington.
The United States and Cambodia have decided to restart their yearly military drills, marking the first time in eight years, a step that experts refer to as amajor reset in relations.
After a significant deterioration in relations in 2017, when Cambodia shifted its allegiance more towards China and alleged U.S. involvement in a domestic coup, there have been initial efforts to improve ties following a visit by former U.S. President Joe Biden in 2022.
The resumption of military drills was disclosed by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a discussion with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha during a security conference in Malaysia. The United States also formally ended a four-year weapons ban on Cambodia on November 7.
This followed a deal on US tariffs last month, and after the USPresident Donald Trump oversawthe agreement of a peace treaty between Cambodia and Thailand to put an end to aongoing border conflict— although Bangkok ended the ceasefire agreement this week.
Sophal Ear, a political scientist and associate professor at Arizona State University in the United States, told okay1 that the restart is arguably the most significant indication of U.S.-Cambodia reconciliation since the joint military exercises.were suspended.
"Although other diplomatic interactions have taken place, the resumption of military drills holds symbolic significance and suggests a higher degree of trust and collaboration, even if this marks only the initial stage of a more extended process," he stated.
Striking a balance between Washington and Beijing
The US-Cambodia "Angkor Sentinel" exercises were held each year from 2010 to 2017, with Phnom Penh canceling the event in 2017, claiming that its military forces were required to oversee domestic elections.
However, the statement was made during a period of swift growth inCambodia's alignment with China, its biggest trading partner and investor.
Cambodia initiated military drills with China. In November 2017, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) carried out a significant crackdown to reinforce its single-party governance.
The sole effective opposition party in the Southeast Asian country was forcibly dissolved that year, with claims it was planning a coup backed by the United States.
Tensions escalated further in 2018 when Washington alleged that Phnom Penh had secretly entered into an agreement that wouldallow the Chinese armed forces exclusive accessto Cambodia's Ream Naval Base. The US claimed that the base located in the Gulf of Thailand would serve as Beijing's initial military installation in the Indo-Pacific region.
As part of discussions to resume joint exercises, US Defense Secretary Hegseth is said to have obtained Phnom Penh's approval for a potential future US naval visit to the Ream base.
In recent years, there has been a slow but steady enhancement in the relationship between the United States and Cambodia, supported by a series of diplomatic visits.
In August, the Cambodian government put forward Trump's name for the Nobel Peace Prize following his intervention that compelled Cambodia and Thailand to reach a ceasefire amid their continuous border dispute. A five-day conflict the month before resulted in 43 deaths and hundreds of thousands being displaced.
Cambodia, recognizing its military and economic disadvantages in comparison to Thailand, depends on global backing to advance its territorial assertions.
"The United States is the only nation capable of fully restoring peace in Cambodia and Thailand, as President Trump will openly advocate for peace," said Seun Sam, an analyst at the government-backed Royal Academy of Cambodia, to okay1.
Nevertheless, tensions continue due to Cambodia's large-scale online scam sector, which is becoming more regarded by Washington as a threat to national security. Americans lost $10 billion (€8.6 billion) to fraudsters operating in Southeast Asia last year, marking a 66% rise from 2023, as reported by the US government.
Last month, Washington introduced pioneering penalties against the Prince Group, one of Cambodia's leading business groups, due to its involvement in the illegal sector.
The founder of Prince Group, Chen Zhi, had $14 billion worth of cryptocurrency assets confiscated by the US Treasury, marking the biggest seizure of its kind in history.
Seeking favor with Washington
A Cambodian official, who spoke to okay1 while remaining anonymous, stated that the recent surge in agreements with the United States stems from Phnom Penh's recognition that the current situation was no longer acceptable.
The nation's economic condition is weak, experiencing a significant decline in tourism and Chinese funding, partially because of the negative impact resulting from the fraudulent activities. Several industries are still struggling to bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The continuous conflict with Thailand has severely impacted trade across the border and led to the return of nearly one million migrant workers from Thailand, a challenge that Phnom Penh is finding difficult to manage.
In April, Trump's initial tariff announcement proposed a severe 49% tax on Cambodian products, among the highest globally. The United States buys approximately two-fifths of Cambodia's total exports.
Even though these tariffs were lowered to 19% in August, significant worries remain in Phnom Penh that the unpredictable actions of the White House might severely impact Cambodia's manufacturing industry, which forms the foundation of its economy.
A Cambodian official stated that the government now acknowledges it can no longer solely rely on Chinese investment and needs to make real efforts to connect with the US in order to safeguard the economy and the credibility of the ruling CPP, which has been in control since 1979.
Following the lifting of the arms ban on Cambodia last week, the US State Department stated that this decision was due to Phnom Penh's "consistent efforts towards peace and security, including by re-establishing dialogue with the United States on defense collaboration and addressing cross-border criminal activities."
Cyberscams in focus
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who studied at the prestigious West Point military school in the United States, recently stated that he has committed to enhancing efforts against fraud in collaboration with the U.S. following a call with FBI Director Kash Patel.
Cyberscams have emerged as a critical issue in Cambodia, with certain reports indicating that the illegal sector generates approximately $19 billion each year, representing 40% of the official economy.
Millions of individuals, among them numerous non-nationals, have been forced into the illegal industry, with many enduring circumstances akin to slavery.
Last month, Seoul banned its nationalsFollowing the discovery of a South Korean individual, who had been trafficked into a scam facility, being found dead after suffering torture, travel to specific regions of Cambodia is advised against.
Phnom Penh claims to address this matter with seriousness, yet there are allegations of slow progress, as several members of Cambodia's political and economic leadership are reportedly benefiting from the illegal sector.
Analysts noted that the recent improvement in relations with the United States stems from Cambodia's desire to achieve essential diplomatic stability amid an ongoing dispute with Thailand, significant economic challenges, and the growing consequences of its increasingly difficult cybercrime issue.
Nevertheless, it should not be interpreted as a significant shift by Phnom Penh away from China, which continues to be Cambodia's primary economic partner and a strong geopolitical ally.
"Not necessarily a decline" in relations with Beijing, "but rather a shift," Ear stated.
"The choice to resume US exercises implies that Phnom Penh is aiming for more independence in its foreign policy decisions and conveying a message that it prioritizes strategic adaptability over strict allegiance," he added.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn
Author: David Hutt
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