Cambodia’s military announced it will resume joint exercises with the United States early next year, marking a significant step after a nearly decade-long pause. The Royal Cambodian Army confirmed on its official Facebook page that the two countries plan to conduct a joint drill, named "Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027," scheduled for February.
The decision follows a series of recent high-level defence meetings aimed at improving bilateral relations, which have been strained partly due to Washington’s concerns over Phnom Penh’s close economic and political ties with China. Cambodia suspended these joint military exercises with the United States in 2017 amid rising geopolitical tensions.
According to the army’s statement, the upcoming exercise is designed to enhance interoperability and disaster-response capabilities between the two forces. The announcement emphasized that the exercise reflects renewed momentum in Cambodia-US military cooperation, underscoring a mutual commitment to strengthening defence collaboration.
The announcement came shortly after Prime Minister Hun Manet’s discussions on August 14 with Elbridge A. Colby, the Under Secretary for Policy at the US Department of War and the third-ranking official at the department. Their talks focused on bilateral relations, particularly defence issues, and the steps necessary to revive the military exercises.
Following the meeting, Hun Manet expressed satisfaction with what he described as positive momentum in Cambodia-US relations. He also highlighted progress in preparations for the Angkor Sentinel exercise and ongoing cooperation in military capacity-building efforts to strengthen the Cambodian Armed Forces.
The resumption of these joint drills is viewed as a potential indicator of warming defence ties between Cambodia and the United States amid a complex regional security environment shaped by China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia. Both sides appear to be seeking practical steps to rebuild military trust and operational coordination after years of limited engagement.