U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Cambodia on Tuesday to bolster military ties with one of China’s closest allies in Southeast Asia. This visit follows Austin’s recent meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, in Singapore, as part of efforts to repair military communications between the U.S. and China.
During his one-day visit to Phnom Penh, Austin met with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha and Prime Minister Hun Manet. Cambodia’s Defense Ministry released a statement indicating that Austin’s visit aimed to strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, which has spanned more than 70 years.
Austin’s trip to Cambodia comes after his participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key defense forum held in Singapore. At this forum, Austin engaged in talks with Adm. Dong Jun to gradually rebuild lines of communication between the U.S. and Chinese militaries. These efforts are seen as crucial amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S.-Cambodia relations have been strained for years, primarily due to Phnom Penh’s close ties with China. A significant point of contention is China’s military presence at a Cambodian navy base in the Gulf of Thailand, which has been upgraded with Beijing’s assistance. The U.S. has also criticized Cambodia’s human rights record, particularly the suppression of political dissidents and critics.
Cambodian officials have denied that China will have special basing privileges and assert that the country maintains a neutral defense posture.
This visit marks Austin’s first to Cambodia since Hun Manet became prime minister last year, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who held office for 38 years. The transition has raised speculation about a potential reset in U.S.-Cambodia relations, although Hun Manet has largely continued his father’s policies. Notably, both Austin and Hun Manet are graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, with Austin graduating in 1975 and Hun Manet in 1999 as Cambodia’s first cadet there.
Additionally, Austin held separate talks with Hun Sen, now serving as president of the Senate.
Following his visit to Cambodia, Austin is set to travel to France to participate in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landing, according to the U.S. Defense Department.
