U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati’s commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Reckham, is welcomed at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base by the base’s chief of staff and deputy commander, Maj. Gen. Chon Hedezeth. (Jan. 24, 2026)
[People News] The U.S. Navy littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati visited Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday (Jan. 24). This marks the first time a U.S. warship has docked there since Cambodia completed renovations and upgrades to the port last year with assistance from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to Voice of America, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a statement that the visit “celebrates the continued partnership between the United States and Cambodia and reaffirms our shared commitment to regional security, peace, and prosperity.”
The Seventh Fleet said that during the port call, sailors will host ship tours, conduct professional exchanges, and meet with key leaders “to further strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations.”
“It is an honor to be welcomed by the people of Cambodia at Ream Naval Base,” said Capt. Matt Scarlett, commander of Destroyer Squadron 7, in the Seventh Fleet statement. “We always value the opportunity to work alongside our partners and continue to help build a free and open Indo-Pacific for all nations.”
Ream (also translated as Reang) Naval Base is located in Sihanoukville Province along the Gulf of Thailand. The base’s infrastructure was renovated with CCP assistance. Military cooperation between Beijing and Phnom Penh, including the CCP’s role at this naval base, has long raised concerns in Washington. In 2019, reports said Cambodia and the CCP had a secret agreement allowing the CCP exclusive use of Ream Naval Base. That year, a Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson denied to VOA that such a secret deal existed and insisted that Cambodia’s constitution does not permit foreign troops to be stationed long-term.
In April last year, the upgrade and renovation of Ream Naval Base were completed. At the commissioning ceremony, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the base welcomes warships from all friendly nations. Since then, Japanese and Vietnamese naval vessels have visited the base.
In December 2024, the U.S. Navy ship USS Savannah docked at Sihanoukville Port not far from Ream Naval Base. That was the first visit to Cambodia by a U.S. warship in eight years.
Both the USS Savannah and the USS Cincinnati, which is currently visiting Ream, are Independence-variant littoral combat ships.
The Seventh Fleet said in its statement: “This visit also demonstrates the growing cooperation and expanding friendship between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Cambodian Navy. Cambodia and the United States are working side by side to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The statement also said: “As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we not only reflect on our ideals, but also on the enduring role diplomacy has played in shaping our nation’s development and global influence. This visit affirms our long-standing partnership with Cambodia and our shared vision for the future.”
Cambodian leaders last year praised President Donald Trump for helping mediate an armed conflict between Cambodia and neighboring Thailand. On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that he will join the peace committee established by President Trump. △
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