Cambodian-US relations appear to be experiencing a thaw, thanks to the signing of the President Trump-brokered peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand. The White House has announced the lifting of arms embargos, as well as increased military and law enforcement cooperation.
The October 26 signing of the agreement, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was observed by Trump, giving Prime Minister Hun Manet his first opportunity to speak with the US president, since he became prime minister in 2023.
A White House statement noted that new opportunities have been “unlocked” with Cambodia.
“Based on Cambodia’s diligent pursuit of peace and security, the US will remove the arms embargo on Cambodia, and both sides agreed to restart the bilateral Angkor Sentinel defence exercises, last held in 2017.
“Additionally, the US will increase seats for Cambodian officers at US military colleges such as West Point, the Air Force Academy and others,” said the White House, on October 26.
It added that the US and Cambodia have also agreed to expand cooperation on combating transnational crime organisations, including narcotics traffickers and online scam centres – “criminal enterprises that steal over $10 billion annually from vulnerable Americans”.
The US imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia in December 2021 for what it referred to as “deepening Chinese military influence in Cambodia”, especially the modernisation of Ream Naval Base, which the US saw as undermining and threatening regional stability. At the time, the US also referenced concerns about human rights and corruption allegations.
