Cambodia-US Defense Officials Discuss Strengthening Military Cooperation

Lieutenant General Rath Dararath, Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, led a Cambodian military delegation to participate in the 4th Cambodia-United States National Defense Policy Dialogue in Washington D.C. on July 22, 2026. During the meeting, the Secretary of State was welcomed by Ms. Lori D. Abele, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of the United States, at the Pentagon. The dialogue between Lieutenant General Rath Dararath and Ms. Lori D. Abele focused on discussions and mutual exchange of views on the continued strengthening of bilateral military cooperation between Cambodia and the United States, with a particular emphasis on key priorities such as joint exercises, human resource development, training, and other forms of cooperation. In addition to discussing bilateral cooperation, Lieutenant General Rath Dararath also briefed the U.S. side on the current situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border. He expressed gratitude for the support and participation of the United States in resolving border issues. This meeting marks a new chapter in Cambodia-U.S. relations with the resumption of military cooperation between the two countries. This follows the initial meeting between then-President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Hun Manet in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, where the two leaders attended the ASEAN-U.S. Summit and witnessed the official signing of a peace agreement to end border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. Regarding the military sector, the United States has announced its commitment to strengthening military cooperation with Cambodia, including lifting the ban on arms sales to Cambodia and resuming the joint military exercise 'Angkor Guardian,' which had been suspended for nearly 10 years. The Washington government has also pledged to continue human resource development for Cambodia in the military field, intending to increase the number of seats for Cambodian officials to study at American military colleges, such as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Air Force Academy, among others.