Cambodia and US to resume joint military exercises in 2027

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that Cambodia and the United States will resume joint military exercises in 2027, marking a significant shift in defense relations after a decade-long hiatus. The announcement followed a meeting in Phnom Penh between Hun Manet and Elbridge Colby, a senior policy official from the Pentagon.

The resumption includes the Angkor Sentinel exercises, which were previously held for seven consecutive years before being suspended by Phnom Penh in early 2017. Additionally, both nations plan to restart the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercises in 2027.

Beyond combat training, the two countries intend to expand cooperation in disaster relief, counter-terrorism, transnational crime prevention, and the recovery of missing US military personnel. This move toward closer military ties with Washington comes as Cambodia has significantly deepened its defense partnership with China in recent years, including large-scale joint drills and infrastructure developments at the Ream Naval Base.