U.S Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Savannah will make a port call in Cambodia next week. This is the first visit of a U.S Navy warship to the Southeast Asian country in 8 years. It is also special since Cambodia is a close ally of China.

Savannah will berth at the Sihanoukville Port on the Gulf of Thailand on December 16 to 20. The ship has a 103-member crew, per the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense.

The U.S requested to schedule the visit, which would also strengthen diplomatic relations and promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The U.S has not made any announcement regarding this visit and the U.S Embassy in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh did not give any comments either.

The relationship between U.S and Cambodia has not been quite amiable since the former has called out Phnom Penh for political repression and violations of human rights.

The United States also expressed concerns regarding the upgrade of a Cambodian naval base close to Sihanoukville which it thinks will be used by Chinese ships to serve Chinese strategic interests in the region.

China is also establishing a naval base at Ream which would give China easier access to the Malacca Strait which is a vital maritime route between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The base is strategically located on the southern coast of Cambodia, close to Sihanoukville.

Controversies about China’s activities in Cambodia rose in 2019 when the news of a draft agreement between China and Cambodia allowing the former to use the Ream base for 30 years spread. The base would be used by China to deploy its military personnel, keep weaponry and dock warships.

Cambodian Government has said there is no such agreement, stressing that its constitution doesn’t allow foreign military bases on its soil, though Chinese activities on the base have continued.

Savannah is not docking at the naval base, though per the defence ministry, the visit would include a meeting with the Ream naval base’s commander and provincial officials, including a friendly sports match between the crew of the U.S Navy ship and the Cambodian Navy.

In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin came to Cambodia and held talks with P.M. Hun Manet and senior officers. He also met Cambodian alumni of United States military training programs.