Cambodia open to U.S. Navy at port China aided in growing

Cambodia extended a warm invitation to the U.S. Navy to visit its Ream Naval Base, amidst concerns from the Pentagon about potential Chinese influence in the region. Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol reassured during a think tank event in Washington that once the naval base is ready, any country’s military would be welcome to dock at the port.

Sun emphasized that the expansion of the Ream Naval Base was primarily for Cambodia’s national defense and not as a Chinese outpost. He clarified, “The Ream Naval Base is not for the Chinese. The Chinese provided us with the assistance to expand the Ream Naval Base for our own national defense, not to be used by the Chinese or any military against another country.”