AKP Phnom Penh, June 26, 2025 --

Andrew Byers, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia, concluded a productive two-day visit to Cambodia, engaging in high-level discussions with senior Cambodian military and government officials.

The visit, from June 24 to 25, aimed to bolster bilateral defence cooperation.

According to a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Byers held meetings with several key figures, including H.E. Admiral Tea Sokha, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy; H.E. General Rath Dararoth, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence; H.E. General Suon Samnang, Head of the Military Cooperation Coordination Committee; and H.E. General Phat Vibol Sopheak, Director General of the Department of International Relations at the Ministry of National Defence.

Byers also met with H.E. Ms. Eat Sophea, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Discussions during the meetings focused on advancing bilateral military cooperation, building on engagements between defence officials at last month's Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Future plans were also on the agenda, including a potential visit by the U.S. Secretary of Defence to Cambodia.

This visit could coincide with the first port call by a U.S. Navy vessel at the recently re-opened Ream Naval Base later this year, a move seen as a significant step in strengthening defence ties between the two nations.

During his visit, Byers also met with alumni of U.S. military exchange programmes and toured key facilities at the Ream Naval Base, located on Cambodia's southern coast.

The visit underscores increasing efforts to re-engage and strengthen U.S.-Cambodia defence relations through open dialogue, transparency, and collaboration.

By K. Rithy Reak