PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A U.S. Navy warship, the littoral combat ship Savannah, will make a port call in Cambodia from December 16 to 20, marking the first such visit in eight years, according to a statement released by Cambodian authorities. The vessel is scheduled to dock at the port of Sihanoukville, located on the Gulf of Thailand, and carries a crew of 103 members.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense indicated that the visit was arranged following a U.S. request for a port call. The ministry described the visit as an opportunity to “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation” between the two nations. As of now, the United States has not officially announced the visit, and there were no comments from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Relations between the U.S. and Cambodia have historically been fraught, with Washington consistently criticizing the Cambodian government for political repression and human rights abuses. The U.S. government has also expressed concerns regarding the development and upgrading of a Cambodian naval base near Sihanoukville, which is believed to potentially facilitate the strategic interests of China in the region.

Furthermore, the U.S. and other nations are apprehensive about the possibility of China’s navy establishing a base at Ream, located also near Sihanoukville, which could enhance its access to the critical shipping route of the Malacca Strait between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Ream naval base controversy originated in 2019 when it was reported that an agreement would allow for 30 years of Chinese military access to the base, which would facilitate the posting of military personnel, storage of weapons, and berthing of warships.

Despite government denials regarding such an agreement and assurances that foreign military bases are prohibited by Cambodia’s constitution, Chinese construction activities at Ream have persisted. The Savannah will not make a stop at the naval base during its visit; however, the planned activities will include a meeting with the commander of the Ream Naval Base, engagements with provincial officials, and a sports competition between the U.S. Navy and the Cambodian Navy.

On Wednesday, Cambodia’s foreign ministry remarked on the “positive momentum of bilateral ties and cooperation” and noted the “reinvigoration of military-to-military cooperation” between Cambodia and the United States. In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Cambodia for discussions with Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior officials, along with Cambodian alumni of U.S. military training programs. Prime Minister Hun Manet is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.