Cambodia’s military chief called for the resumption of “Angkor Sentinel” exercises with the U.S., which had been suspended since 2017. The U.S. views this as a tentative step in restoring relations, but its effectiveness is questioned given Cambodia’s ongoing reliance on China and issues surrounding its cyber scam industry.

In a recent meeting, Cambodia’s military chief Vong Pisen explicitly advocated for the resumption of the bilateral military exercises known as “Angkor Sentinel,” which were suspended in 2017. The United States has long urged Cambodia to restart these drills, having sought such collaboration since at least 2020. Previously, Cambodia had downplayed military ties and offered only limited counterterrorism cooperation.

Cambodia’s potential resumption of the “Angkor Sentinel” military drills signals a shift in its foreign relations dynamics, as it aims to balance its ties with China. However, observers remain skeptical that this move reflects a profound transformation in Cambodia’s dependency on Chinese support. Both the U.S. and China desire a crackdown on Cambodia’s burgeoning cyber scam industry, revealing a rare alignment of interests that could influence future diplomatic engagements.

Original Source: www.rfa.org

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