Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and senior military officials met with Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and officers from the US warship USS Savannah in the capital Phnom Penh on December 18.

During the meeting, both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, according to Khmer Times today, citing an announcement from the Cambodian Prime Minister's Office.

Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the visit of the US delegation led by Admiral Paparo and the docking of the USS Savannah at Cambodia's Sihanoukville port from December 16 will further promote relations and cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector.

For his part, Admiral Paparo said his visit represents a continuation of efforts to strengthen US-Cambodia relations, especially in the defense sector, following the visit to Cambodia in June by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Mr. Paparo pledged to continue to strengthen cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries through exchanges at all levels, training initiatives and joint exercises.

Speaking at a press conference held alongside the USS Savannah at Sihanoukville port on December 18, Admiral Paparo praised ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand bilateral friendship and cooperation between the US and Cambodia.

"From the beginning, we have also talked about expanding the exercise programs and possibly returning to some of the exercises that we have done in the past, particularly the air exercises and Angkor Sentinel. And we will engage in negotiations seriously," Mr. Paparo said at the above-mentioned press conference.

The last annual bilateral exercise between the US and Cambodia was the Angkor Sentinel 2016 exercise, which took place at the Multinational Peacekeeping Training School in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. The exercise was organized by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by the US Army Pacific, according to the Khmer Times .

The Angkor Sentinel exercise is designed to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve military cooperation between the two countries.