Cambodia-US Militaries to Strengthen Maritime Security

The United States promised to work with Cambodia on maritime security at a high-level meeting in Phnom Penh yesterday between senior officials from both countries. Secretary of State for the Defense Ministry General Neang Phat and visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Amy Searight met yesterday to discuss military security, with each pledging to focus on bilateral maritime efforts.

Dr. Searight arrived in the Kingdom yesterday and will leave today. During the meeting, she expressed her gratitude for Cambodia’s continued efforts in helping the US recover the remains of American soldiers who died during the Vietnam War and promised the US would “work with Cambodia [in relation to] maritime security.” Gen. Phat expressed his gratitude to the US.

“Cambodia always welcomes working with the US in relation to security and Cambodia expects that the relationship between both militaries will become closer in the future,” he said. Dr. Searight’s visit comes at the same time as a visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which was announced to the public on Tuesday. Mr. Yi is in the Kingdom to discuss a number of issues, among them the controversy over China’s claims to islands and vast areas in the South China Sea.

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