Cambodia calls on US to resume joint drills

‘Continuing cooperation in the spirit of friendship, including intelligence sharing to combat transnational crimes (and) counterterrorism efforts is important,’ says Cambodian army chief

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – Cambodia’s military has called on the US to resume joint training exercises, said a statement from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) General Command.

RCAF Commander-in-Chief Vong Pisen made the request to General Ronald P. Clark, Commander of the US Army Pacific, during their meeting that Angkor Sentinel, an annual joint military exercise, be resumed, according to the statement.

Pisen asked for a “review and discussion on the possibility of resuming joint military training such as the 'Angkor Sentinel' exercise, which has been suspended since 2017” as Phnom Penh strengthened its ties with China.

The last Angkor Sentinel exercise was held in 2016.

Pisen highlighted the significance of “continuing cooperation in the spirit of friendship, including intelligence sharing to combat transnational crimes, counterterrorism efforts, and ongoing missions to locate and repatriate the remains of missing US service members in Cambodia,” said the statement.

Clark paid an official visit to Cambodia from Feb. 24-25.

Last December, a US warship visited Cambodia for the first time in eight years.

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