US Warship Visits Cambodia’s Ream Base Amid Chinese Presence
REAM, Cambodia : A U.S. warship docked at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday, marking the first American military visit since extensive Chinese-funded renovations raised strategic concerns in Washington.
foreign media reported that the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS-20) moored at a pier 150 meters from two Chinese warships, underscoring Cambodia’s delicate position between its Chinese partner and U.S. engagement.
Commanding officer Andrew J. Recame described the visit as “our privilege and honor to be the first U.S. naval vessel to moor pierside at Ream Naval Base,” adding that he hopes it “marks the beginning of a longstanding tradition and friendship.”
Cambodian authorities have consistently denied that Ream is intended for the exclusive use of any single foreign power, following reports in 2022 suggesting the upgraded facilities would serve the Chinese Navy exclusively. The base’s administration said the five-day U.S. visit would “promote cooperation between the two countries” and reflect Cambodia’s “commitment to an open, transparent, and cooperative policy with international partners.”
Background: The base was inaugurated in April 2025 by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet alongside a delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army. Prime Minister Hun emphasized that ships from multiple nations would be welcome. Two Japanese warships were the first international vessels to dock there two weeks after its inauguration.
China has contributed to the Ream Naval Base expansion since 2022, raising alarms in the U.S. about its potential strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand, near the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly entirely. Western scrutiny of the base dates back to 2019, when reports emerged of a secret draft agreement allowing Chinese warships to dock there.
Cambodia has historically been a close Chinese ally. Under former Prime Minister Hun Sen, Beijing invested billions in infrastructure, while U.S.-Cambodia relations have cooled in recent years. The Ream base, Cambodia’s sole southern naval facility, remains a focal point of regional strategic interest, with both U.S. and Chinese naval presence now visible.
