Cambodia confirms resumption of joint military exercises with US in February 2027

September 8, 2026 at 08:28 AM1 min

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Cambodia's army confirmed it will resume joint military exercises with the United States in February 2027 after a decade-long suspension. The Royal Cambodian Army announced the conclusion of an Initial Planning Conference for Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027. The move follows high-level meetings between U.S. and Cambodian officials, including Prime Minister Hun Manet and U.S. Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge A. Colby.

Key Facts

Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027 is scheduled for February 2027, according to the Royal Cambodian Army's Facebook announcement.
The exercise was first held in 2010 and was unilaterally canceled by Cambodia in early 2017.
Prime Minister Hun Manet met with U.S. Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge A. Colby last month to discuss expanded defense cooperation.
Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Phnom Penh and met with Gen. Vong Pisen and Vice Adm. Tea Sokha.

Exercise Resumption

The Royal Cambodian Army announced on Facebook that officials from the two nations concluded an Initial Planning Conference for Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2027. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability and disaster-response capabilities, reflecting renewed momentum in Cambodia–U.S. military cooperation. Angkor Sentinel was first held in 2010 but was canceled by the Cambodian government in early 2017, shortly after Cambodian troops joined China's Golden Dragon exercise.

Diplomatic Engagement

Prime Minister Hun Manet met with Elbridge A. Colby, undersecretary for policy at the U.S. Department of War, last month to discuss expanded defense cooperation. Hun Manet expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Cambodia-U.S. relations and ongoing talks about resuming Angkor Sentinel. Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to Phnom Penh for meetings with Gen. Vong Pisen and Vice Adm. Tea Sokha. The U.S. Pacific Fleet stated the visit reaffirmed the United States' long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.