The Royal Cambodian Army announced on Friday that officials from Cambodia and the United States have concluded an Initial Planning Conference for Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027. The joint military training is scheduled to take place in February of next year, marking a formal return of the program after a long hiatus.
According to the announcement, the exercise is designed to improve interoperability and enhance disaster-response capabilities. The event reflects a shared commitment to strengthening defense cooperation and highlights the renewed momentum in military ties between the two nations. This move follows a series of high-level diplomatic meetings, including a session last month between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Elbridge A. Colby, the U.S. undersecretary for policy at the Department of War. During those talks, both parties discussed the expansion of defense cooperation, with Hun Manet expressing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of the relationship and the potential for reviving the exercises.
The Prime Minister noted that joint training serves as a vital bridge to foster close friendship between the armed forces of both countries, in addition to building military capability. This diplomatic progress was further underscored by a visit to Phnom Penh by Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, who met with top Cambodian officials, including Gen. Vong Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and Vice Adm. Tea Sokha, commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy. The U.S. Pacific Fleet stated that the visit reaffirmed a long-term commitment to a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Angkor Sentinel was originally established in 2010 but was unilaterally canceled by the Cambodian government in early 2017. That decision occurred shortly after Cambodian troops participated in the Golden Dragon exercise with the Chinese military, reflecting a period of cooling relations between Phnom Penh and Washington. The current resumption has been under discussion since early 2025, prior to President Trump’s return to the White House. Observers note this shift reflects a broader change in Cambodia’s foreign policy as it seeks to diversify its international relations, while the United States works to strengthen its influence in the region. These improvements in military cooperation persist despite U.S. government reports highlighting the involvement of the Cambodian elite in the nation's large-scale online scamming industry, which cost U.S. citizens an estimated $10 billion in 2024.
U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (center left), U.S. Charge d’Affaires to Cambodia Aleks Zittle (right), and Royal Cambodian Navy Rear Adm. Mey Dina, commander of the Ream Naval Base (center right), pose for a photo with their staff during Koehler’s visit to the base in Sihanoukville, C
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