Cambodia to resume military drills with US next year

Cambodia and the United States are set to resume military drills following a decade of delay, as Prime Minister Hun Manet announced on Friday. The resumption of joint exercises, known as Angkor Sentinel, is intended to strengthen the bond between the armed forces of both nations. This decision comes after a meeting between Hun Manet and Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official, in Phnom Penh on Friday.

The US and Cambodia previously conducted joint exercises for seven years until Cambodia halted them in early 2017, shortly after beginning joint drills with China. China and Cambodia recently held their most extensive joint military exercises, incorporating advanced Chinese weaponry such as artillery, naval vessels, and robotic combat animals.

Cambodia has long been a key ally of China in Southeast Asia, welcoming substantial investments, while the US has expressed concerns over China's expansion in the region, including the renovation of Cambodia's Ream Naval Base.

Colby expressed optimism during a press briefing, stating that the United States looks forward to a pragmatic partnership with Cambodia to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty.