In a move that carries significant geopolitical connotations, the United States has announced its decision to send a warship to visit a naval base in Cambodia. This is the first such visit since 2019 when Cambodia purportedly signed a confidential agreement with China to allow the latter a permanent military presence in the Southeast Asian nation.
The Context of Contention
The Ream naval base, located on the Gulf of Thailand, has been at the center of a diplomatic feud involving Cambodia, the US, and China. The controversy erupted following a Wall Street Journal report in 2019 claiming Cambodia had inked a secret deal to allow China’s military exclusive access to the base.
Cambodia has consistently denied such reports, maintaining that its constitution prohibits any foreign military base within its territory. However, the demolition of US-funded facilities at the Ream base in 2020, coupled with Cambodia’s refusal to allow a US embassy visit to the site in 2021, has only fanned the flames of suspicion.
The Strategic Importance of the Ream Naval Base
The Ream naval base holds strategic importance due to its location. It is situated near an international shipping route that connects the Pacific and Indian Oceans, making it a critical gateway for naval operations. Should China establish a military footprint at the base, it would significantly bolster its naval reach in the region, potentially threatening US interests and destabilizing the regional balance of power.
The US Response: A Diplomatic Power Move
The decision to send a US warship to the base is seen by many as a strategic response to counter China’s increasing influence in the region. The US Defense Department recently reported a 4.4% increase in China’s defense budget, marking a consistent rise over the past 26 years. This, coupled with China’s aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea, has raised alarms in Washington.
Moreover, the US has been actively trying to strengthen its Indo-Pacific alliances and reassert its military presence in the region. The visit to the Cambodian naval base can be seen as a part of this wider strategy.
The Implications for Cambodia
The US warship visit could put Cambodia in a precarious position. As a smaller nation, Cambodia has historically walked a tightrope between the two superpowers, trying to maintain a neutral stance. However, the naval base issue has put Cambodia squarely in the crosshairs of the US-China geopolitical rivalry.
While China is Cambodia’s largest investor and an important ally, the US remains a significant trading partner, accounting for 23% of Cambodia’s total exports in 2021. Thus, any shift in allegiance could have significant economic implications for the country.
The US warship visit to the Ream naval base is a clear signal of Washington’s intent to counterbalance China’s increasing military influence in the Southeast Asian region. How Cambodia navigates this delicate situation will have far-reaching implications for the geopolitical dynamics of the region. It will also be a litmus test for the resilience of Cambodia’s diplomatic balancing act between the two superpowers.
