US Navy Warship Visits Cambodia Amid Strengthening Relations

Daniel A. Sledz, center, commanding officer of USS Savannah, meets with Cambodian Deputy Commander of Ream Naval Base, Capt. Mean Savoeun, right, as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, C

A U.S. Navy warship, the USS Savannah, arrived in Cambodia on Monday, marking the first such visit in eight years to the nation, which has close ties with China in Southeast Asia. The port call at Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand is seen as a positive development in the often-strained relations between the United States and Cambodia.

The USS Savannah, a Littoral Combat Ship with a crew of 103, docked for a five-day visit, with the commanding officer expressing enthusiasm about the return of U.S. presence after nearly a decade. The visit comes amidst concerns about Cambodia's relationship with China, particularly regarding the Ream Naval Base near Sihanoukville.