The USS Cincinnati (LCS-20) of the U.S. Navy, an Independence-class warship, visited Ream Naval Base in Cambodia from 24 to 28 January 2026. This visit is a historically significant event from a geopolitical perspective.
USS Cincinnati is a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) designed for high speed and agility, with key features as follows:
Modular Mission Packages: Designed to "swap out equipment" based on mission needs, such as mine countermeasures (MCM), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), or surface warfare (SUW).
Speed and Structure: It is a trimaran (three-hulled) aluminum ship capable of speeds over 40 knots (74 km/h), allowing better access to shallow coastal waters compared to larger warships.
Main Gun: Mk 110, 57 mm caliber, with a firing rate of 220 rounds per minute.
Missile Defense: SeaRAM system for air defense and missile interception.
Naval Strike Missile (NSM): A long-range, highly accurate anti-ship missile.
Aircraft: Can carry two MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters or MQ-8 Fire Scout drones.
This visit had three main purposes:
Reviving Military Relations: After years of tense relations between the U.S. and Cambodia, this port call symbolizes recalibrating ties and rebuilding trust.
Open and Transparent Policy: Cambodia aims to show the world that Ream Naval Base is not exclusively controlled by China, countering previous U.S. concerns. Allowing a U.S. warship to dock following base renovations signals Cambodia's neutral policy stance.
Joint Exercises and Cooperation: To strengthen collaboration on maritime security and facilitate knowledge exchange between the two navies.
China has played a major role funding Ream Naval Base improvements and has regularly sent vessels since late 2023:
Type 056A Corvette: Including ships like Wenshan (623) and Bazhong (625), medium-sized warships capable of anti-submarine and surface attack missions.
Long-Term Deployment: Satellite imagery reports indicate Chinese warships such as corvettes Aba (630) and Tianmen (631) have been stationed for months to train Cambodian personnel and test the new port facilities.