The United States and Cambodia have agreed to expand bilateral defence cooperation following the 4th Cambodia–U.S. Defence Policy Dialogue held at the Pentagon. The discussions mark a significant step in rebuilding military relations between the two countries after several years of limited engagement.
During the dialogue, officials agreed to enhance cooperation in key areas including joint military exercises, professional military education, leadership training, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and human resource development. Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open communication and promoting regional peace and security through continued defence engagement.
A major outcome of the meeting is the planned return of the Angkor Sentinel joint military exercise in 2027, which will be the first large-scale bilateral exercise between the two countries in several years. Defence officials described the initiative as an important milestone in restoring trust and expanding practical military cooperation.
The renewed partnership comes as the United States seeks to strengthen its strategic engagement in Southeast Asia while Cambodia works to diversify its international defence relationships. Analysts view the agreement as a positive signal for broader regional security cooperation and confidence-building efforts.
News as Reported.
