US Defense Secretary Cambodia: In a meeting with Cambodian officials on Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin proposed the start of a thaw in tense relations between the two nations over Cambodia’s increasing proximity to China and explored the possibility of resuming joint military exercises.
According to the Pentagon, Austin met with Senate President Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, and Defense Minister Tea Seiha. Hun Manet’s father is the former prime minister, Hun Sen.
According to a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the officials discussed ways to improve defense ties in support of regional peace and security, such as by starting up military training exchanges again, providing training on demining, and allowing Cambodians to participate in American military education programs.
Taiwan tracks 38 Chinese military aircraft, 11 ships around nation
According to ABC News, Hun Manet’s Telegram post, Austin and he talked about methods to get back to work together, such as giving Cambodians access to American military education programs and holding combined military drills.
Cambodia, which is China’s nearest Southeast Asian ally, stopped doing military drills with the US in 2017.
The close ties between Cambodia and China, especially China’s military presence at a Cambodian navy base in the Gulf of Thailand that was improved with Beijing’s help, have made things tense between the two countries for a long time. Washington has also spoken out against Cambodia’s human rights record, especially the ongoing abuse of political opponents and activists.
Representatives from Cambodia say that their country has a neutral defense stance and deny any idea that China will be given special basing rights.
After attending the Shangri-La defense forum and having discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, Austin arrived from Singapore. This comes as the U.S. and China are progressively mending the communications channels between their militaries, which could prove crucial given the ongoing escalation of tensions in the Indo-Pacific area.
Austin made his first trip to Cambodia since Hun Manet took over as prime minister last year, following in the 38-year tenure of his father, Hun Sen. Though Hun Manet has up until now upheld his father’s policies, the changeover has given rise to rumours of a reset in U.S.-Cambodia ties.
China and US Defense Chiefs Hold rare Direct Talks in Singapore
Before taking office as prime minister last August, Hun Manet was the head of Cambodia’s army. Austin and he became the first cadets from Cambodia to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, with Austin graduating in 1975 and Hun Manet in 1999.
Austin also had a meeting with former American military education students from Cambodia on Tuesday.
According to the US Defense Department, Austin will travel to France from Cambodia to take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing in World War II.
