AKP Phnom Penh, July 01, 2026—

The top army commanders of Cambodia and the United States have vowed to significantly expand bilateral military cooperation, setting the stage for enhanced joint operations and a major multinational exercise in 2027.

During a video conference on Wednesday, General Mao Sophan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, and General Ronald P. Clark, Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defense ties.

The two generals lauded recent progress, particularly the outcomes of the Army Staff Talks, which have established a clear roadmap for future engagements. A key milestone will be the "Angkor Sentinel 2027" joint military exercise, designed to boost interoperability, foster expertise exchange, and build mutual trust between the two forces.

Beyond the exercise, both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in training, capacity-building, and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs). These initiatives aim to deepen long-term partnership and strategic trust, signaling a renewed momentum in U.S.-Cambodia military relations.

By K. Rithy Reak