PHNOM PENH – A senior U.S. Army commander met with Prime Minister Hun Manet and top military officials during an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral defense ties, including demining efforts and the potential resumption of joint military exercises.

During a courtesy visit at the Peace Palace on February 24, General Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), emphasized the importance of strong people-to-people relations and military cooperation between the two nations.

Clark reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to deepening these ties, particularly in military relations, and praised Cambodia’s active role in United Nations peacekeeping missions, highlighting its deployment of peacekeeping forces to various countries.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manet reflected on Cambodia’s evolving role in peacekeeping, noting the country’s transition from receiving UN peacekeepers to now deploying its own forces to support global missions.

Clark also met with Defense Minister Tea Seiha, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) General Vong Pisen, and RCAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Royal Cambodian Army Commander Mao Sophan.

In a statement, the U.S. Army Pacific noted that discussions focused on military training exchanges, particularly in disaster relief, UN peacekeeping, and efforts to make Cambodia mine-free.

During the bilateral meeting, Sophan expressed appreciation for the U.S.’s resumption of military training programs for Cambodian officers and its ongoing support for demining initiatives.

Pisen proposed reviewing the possibility of resuming joint military exercises, such as Angkor Sentinel, while continuing cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, combating transnational crime, and the search for missing American personnel in Cambodia.

First launched in July 2010, the Angkor Sentinel military exercise was a large-scale bilateral peacekeeping initiative between USARPAC and the Royal Cambodian Army. However, it was suspended in 2017.

Regarding Cambodia’s demining efforts, Cambodian Mine Action Center Director General Heng Ratana confirmed on February 20 that the U.S. had granted a conditional waiver for funding to partner organizations supporting demining projects.

Demining operations across eight provinces had previously been halted due to a freeze on foreign aid imposed by the Trump administration.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.