US warship visit to the Cambodia base shows continued warming ties between the two countries

Captain of USS Cincinnati Andrew Recame (front left), poses for photographs with Cambodian Deputy Commander of Ream Naval Base In Sokhemra as the US warship arrives at Ream Naval Base's pier in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. -- AP Photo/Heng Sinith

PHNOM PENH (Bloomberg): A US warship docked at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday for a five-day visit until Jan 28, signaling a continued thaw in military relations after years of tension over access to the strategic port in the Gulf of Thailand.

The USS Cincinnati, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, is the third foreign naval vessel to visit Ream since its upgrade and official reopening last year, according to Cambodian state media. During the visit, US and Cambodian naval officers will hold meetings and joint exercises focused on maritime security and operational coordination.