The United States Navy’s Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) arrived at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base for a temporary port visit on January 24, 2026, marking the first visit by a U.S. warship since the base was expanded with Chinese support.
According to the U.S. Navy, USS Cincinnati docked at the base in southwestern Cambodia as part of a scheduled engagement aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between the United States and Cambodia. The port visit comes after major expansion work at Ream was completed last year with Chinese funding and construction assistance.
The Navy said Cincinnati’s visit is intended to reinforce bilateral ties and support regional stability. “Cincinnati’s visit to Cambodia celebrates the continued partnership between the United States and Cambodia, reaffirming our shared commitment to regional security, peace and prosperity,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement. While in port, the crew will conduct ship tours, hold subject matter expert exchanges, and meet with senior Cambodian leaders to expand maritime cooperation between the two navies.
“It is an honor to be welcomed by the Cambodian people at Ream Naval Base,” said Capt. Matt Scarlett, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7. “We are always excited to work alongside our partners and continue to build a free and open Indo-Pacific for all nations.”
The visit is the first confirmed U.S. Navy port call at Ream since the base’s modernization, which included new piers, dredged waterways, and upgraded support infrastructure. The expansion has drawn attention from Washington amid concerns that the facility could be used by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy. Cambodian officials have repeatedly stated that the base remains under national control and is open to international partners.
The Associated Press reported that no American warships had visited Ream since the completion of the expansion, making the arrival of USS Cincinnati a notable development in U.S.-Cambodian defense engagement. AFP reported that the U.S. vessel docked at a pier approximately 150 meters from a Chinese naval ship that was already moored at the base, highlighting the strategic sensitivity of the visit.
The U.S. Navy said the port call demonstrates the deepening cooperation and expanding relationship between the U.S. Navy and the Royal Cambodian Navy. “Cambodia and the United States work shoulder-to-shoulder to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Navy said, describing the visit as part of ongoing regional engagement efforts.
The port call also follows an earlier U.S. Navy visit to Cambodia. Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) conducted a port visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia in December 2024, according to the Navy, as part of continued efforts to maintain regular naval engagement with regional partners.
USS Cincinnati operates under Destroyer Squadron 7, the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed littoral combat ship squadron in Southeast Asia. As the primary tactical commander for LCS operations in the region, DESRON 7 oversees ships assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
The U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely conducts operations with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific to support freedom of navigation and regional maritime security. The Navy said these engagements are intended to maintain access, interoperability, and coordination across key sea lines of communication.
The U.S. Navy also linked the visit to broader diplomatic engagement, noting that it comes as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding. The Navy said the port call reflects the long-standing partnership between Washington and Phnom Penh and underscores the role of sustained naval diplomacy in regional security.
