NextFin News - In a move that signals a potential thaw in regional maritime tensions, the U.S. Navy warship USS Cincinnati docked at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday, January 24, 2026. This arrival marks the first time a American military vessel has utilized the facility since the completion of extensive renovations funded by the Chinese government. The Cincinnati, an Independence-class littoral combat ship specifically designed for operation in shallow coastal waters, arrived at the base’s newly constructed pier for a scheduled five-day visit through January 28. According to the Associated Press, the port call includes sporting events and cultural exchanges in the nearby city of Sihanoukville, coinciding with high-level security talks between Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha.
The significance of this visit lies in the location’s controversial history. Since 2019, Washington has expressed persistent concerns regarding a reported secret agreement that would grant Beijing exclusive 30-year military access to Ream. While China funded the construction of a new dry dock and a pier capable of hosting aircraft carriers, the Cambodian government has repeatedly denied any such exclusivity. The successful docking of the Cincinnati serves as a physical rebuttal to claims of total Chinese control. In Sokhemra, the deputy commander of the base, emphasized to reporters that the port is now "open for all to enter," specifically naming the United States, Australia, and Japan as welcome partners. This diplomatic maneuver follows a period of cooling relations; prior to the USS Savannah’s visit to a civilian port in late 2024, no U.S. warship had visited Cambodia for eight years.
From a strategic perspective, the visit reflects a sophisticated "hedging" strategy employed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. By allowing a U.S. warship to dock at a facility built with Chinese capital, Hun is attempting to diversify Cambodia’s security portfolio without alienating its primary economic benefactor, Beijing. This "multi-vector" foreign policy is a departure from the more singular alignment seen under previous administrations. The choice of the USS Cincinnati is also technically significant; as a littoral combat ship with a shallow draft, it fits within the current operational constraints of the base while providing a visible U.S. presence in the Gulf of Thailand, a critical maritime corridor for global trade.
The geopolitical implications extend beyond bilateral ties. For the U.S. President Trump’s administration, this visit represents a "trust but verify" approach to Southeast Asian security. By maintaining a physical presence at Ream, the U.S. Navy can monitor the extent of Chinese military integration at the site while fostering human resource training and maritime cooperation with the Cambodian Navy. Data from the Cambodian Navy indicates that while 37 U.S. warships visited between 2003 and 2026, the frequency has been highly volatile, reflecting the shifting political winds in Phnom Penh. The current engagement suggests a stabilization of these relations, driven by shared interests in regional stability and disaster response capabilities.
Looking forward, the Ream Naval Base is likely to become a litmus test for the "ASEAN Centrality" doctrine. If Cambodia successfully maintains the base as a multi-national facility, it could serve as a model for other Southeast Asian nations facing similar pressure to choose sides in the U.S.-China rivalry. However, the true test will come when larger vessels or more permanent foreign rotations are proposed. Analysts predict that while the U.S. will continue to push for transparency regarding Chinese activities at the base, the focus will shift toward joint exercises and technical cooperation. The Cincinnati’s visit is not merely a friendship call; it is a calculated move in a long-term game of maritime chess, where the pier at Ream has become one of the most watched pieces on the board.
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