(Photo: AFP)A US warship on Saturday made a port call at a Cambodian naval base for the first time since Chinese-funded renovations that have raised concerns in Washington, AFP journalists saw. “It is our privilege and our honour to be here as the first US naval vessel to moor pierside at Ream Naval Base, and we hope this is the beginning of a longstanding tradition and friendship,” Lieut Cmdr Andrew J Recame, the ship’s commanding officer, told reporters. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and a delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army inaugurated the base in April last year. Beijing has since 2022 been contributing to a revamp of the Ream Naval Base, which was originally built partly using US funds. On Saturday morning, AFP journalists saw two Chinese warships still docked at the base.

Source: Bangkok Post January 24, 2026 12:20 UTC