Cambodia-US Military Drills Resume After Decade: A Geopolitical Shift in Southeast Asia

After nearly a decade of strained relations marked by mutual suspicion and geopolitical maneuvering, Cambodia and the United States are poised to restart joint military exercises early next year. This development, announced by the Royal Cambodian Army, signals a significant recalibration in diplomatic and defense ties, coming on the heels of high-level meetings aimed at patching up differences that had seen crucial security cooperation grind to a halt. The resumption of these drills could reshape regional security dynamics, particularly in the context of growing U.S.-China competition for influence in Southeast Asia.

Quick summary

• Cambodia and the United States will resume their joint "Angkor Sentinel" military exercises in February next year, ending a suspension that began in 2017.
• The decision follows a series of high-level engagements between defense and diplomatic officials from both nations, aimed at mending rocky bilateral relations.
• The drills, focused on interoperability and disaster response, represent a potential thawing of tensions, despite lingering U.S. concerns over Cambodia's close ties with China and its human rights record.
• This move marks a notable shift in Cambodia's foreign policy, which has increasingly leaned towards Beijing in recent years, impacting regional geopolitical stability.

Why it matters

The planned resumption of military exercises between Cambodia and the United States carries considerable weight for regional stability and the broader geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia. For Washington, it could represent a strategic opportunity to re-engage a nation that has increasingly deepened its economic and military ties with China, offering a potential counterweight to Beijing's expanding influence in the region. Restoring defense cooperation allows the U.S. to project its commitment to its regional partners and foster greater interoperability in humanitarian aid and disaster response, which are often cited as primary objectives of such drills.

For Cambodia, this move could signify a nuanced balancing act in its foreign policy. While maintaining strong relations with China, Phnom Penh appears to be signaling a desire to diversify its international partnerships and avoid over-reliance on a single power. This might be an attempt to leverage improved relations with the U.S. to secure various forms of assistance, from capacity building for its armed forces to broader economic opportunities. The exercises themselves, aimed at strengthening capabilities in areas like disaster relief, directly impact the safety and resilience of Cambodian citizens, who are frequently vulnerable to natural calamities. Furthermore, the optics of renewed U.S. engagement could subtly shift international perceptions of Cambodia's autonomy and its approach to regional security challenges. The decision reflects an acknowledgment by both sides that mutual cooperation, even amidst differences, can serve national and regional interests.

Background

Relations between Cambodia and the United States have historically been complex, marked by periods of cooperation and significant tension. The joint military exercises, known as "Angkor Sentinel," were a cornerstone of bilateral defense cooperation until their abrupt suspension by Cambodia in 2017. This decision coincided with a period of growing friction, as Washington expressed escalating concerns over Cambodia's democratic backsliding, its human rights record – including crackdowns on political opposition and civil society – and, critically, the deepening military and economic ties between Phnom Penh and Beijing.

A central point of contention for the U.S. has been China's substantial military presence at the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand. Beijing provided significant assistance for a major upgrade of the base, leading to suspicions from the United States that China was granted exclusive, perhaps secret, access or privileges. Cambodian officials have consistently denied these allegations, asserting that the base remains under sovereign Cambodian control and is open to all allies. However, these concerns persisted, casting a long shadow over bilateral defense relations. The suspension of the "Angkor Sentinel" exercises, along with a bilateral maritime exercise also halted in 2017, reflected the low ebb of these strategic interactions.

A Decade of Strained Ties

The years following the 2017 suspension witnessed a significant cooling of U.S.-Cambodia defense engagement. While some lower-level interactions and capacity-building programs continued, the absence of high-profile joint drills underscored a diplomatic chill. During this period, Cambodia visibly strengthened its alignment with China, accepting substantial Chinese investment and military aid, and often aligning with Beijing on international platforms. This shift was viewed by many observers as a strategic pivot by Cambodia, seeking an alternative patron amidst U.S. criticisms regarding its internal governance and democratic processes.

The U.S., for its part, maintained its critique of Cambodia's human rights situation, pointing to a pattern of legal actions against political dissidents and critics by courts often perceived as influenced by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party under Prime Minister Hun Manet (and previously his father, Hun Sen). These concerns, coupled with the Ream Naval Base issue, created a significant barrier to the full normalization of defense ties.

Navigating Geopolitical Currents

However, recent months have seen a concerted effort from both sides to address these longstanding grievances. A series of high-level dialogues played a pivotal role in paving the way for the announced resumption of exercises. In August, Prime Minister Hun Manet engaged in discussions with Elbridge A. Colby, the third-ranking official in the U.S. Department of War. Hun Manet publicly expressed satisfaction with the "positive momentum" in relations and the progress made towards restarting Angkor Sentinel. Similarly, U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, met with Cambodian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Gen. Vong Pisen, further cementing plans for renewed bilateral maritime exercises. These diplomatic overtures suggest a mutual recognition of the benefits of re-engagement and a willingness to find common ground, even as underlying geopolitical tensions and domestic policy differences persist. The renewed engagement signifies a potential strategic recalibration in Phnom Penh's foreign policy, aiming for a more balanced approach in an increasingly complex regional environment.

Qnews24h insight

The announced resumption of joint military exercises between Cambodia and the United States is more than a mere logistical decision; it represents a cautious yet significant diplomatic opening in Southeast Asia’s intricate geopolitical landscape. While the stated objectives of the "Angkor Sentinel" drills focus on interoperability and disaster response, the deeper implication is a potential strategic recalibration by Phnom Penh. Cambodia's decade-long suspension of these exercises coincided with a pronounced deepening of ties with China, often at the expense of its relationship with Washington. This resumption suggests Cambodia might be seeking to inject greater balance into its foreign policy, recognizing the strategic risks of excessive reliance on a single major power.

This move should not be interpreted as a wholesale pivot away from China, given the extensive economic and military commitments already in place. Instead, it appears to be a pragmatic effort by Cambodia to re-establish a degree of strategic flexibility and mend fences with a major global power. For the U.S., re-engaging Cambodia offers a modest victory in its broader Indo-Pacific strategy, allowing Washington to demonstrate its enduring presence and commitment to regional partners, even those with complex ties to Beijing. The challenge for both nations will be to sustain this renewed momentum while navigating persistent issues such as human rights and China's strategic footprint in Cambodia. The true test of this diplomatic thaw will be whether it leads to more substantial, consistent engagement that genuinely addresses the underlying points of friction, or if it remains a largely symbolic gesture in a region where allegiances are constantly being tested.

Sources

• Cambodia’s army to resume joint military exercises with the US next year - ABC News

FAQs

What are the 'Angkor Sentinel' exercises?

The 'Angkor Sentinel' exercises are joint military drills between the Royal Cambodian Army and the United States armed forces. They are designed to enhance military interoperability, focusing on capabilities such as disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and regional security cooperation.

Why were the joint exercises suspended for nearly a decade?

Cambodia suspended the exercises in 2017 amidst growing U.S. concerns over Cambodia's human rights record, democratic backsliding, and its increasingly close military and economic ties with China. A key point of contention was the U.S.'s suspicion regarding China's military presence and potential exclusive access at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base.

What is the significance of resuming these exercises now?

The resumption signals a potential thaw in the strained diplomatic and defense relations between Cambodia and the U.S. It suggests Cambodia might be pursuing a more balanced foreign policy amidst major power competition in Southeast Asia, while the U.S. is seeking to re-engage a country that has recently leaned heavily towards China. It also highlights the success of recent high-level diplomatic efforts to mend ties.

How do these exercises relate to China's influence in Cambodia?

The U.S. has expressed long-standing concerns about China's growing military presence, particularly at the Ream Naval Base in Cambodia. The resumption of exercises with the U.S. could be seen as Cambodia's attempt to diversify its strategic partnerships and demonstrate a degree of autonomy, thereby subtly addressing U.S. anxieties about China's singular influence in the country. It doesn't negate China's presence but indicates a broader strategic engagement.