The United States-Cambodia Relationship - United States Department of State (2024)

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The Secretary will travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from August 2-6 toparticipate inthe ASEAN-related ministerial meetings. He will alsohold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign MinisterPrakSokhonn. The Secretary, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister willdiscussimportantareas ofmutual concern, such as DPRK sanctionsenforcement, law enforcement and child protection,the crisis in Burma,global health security, climate change,condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Cambodia’s support forestablishingthe U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Secretary will emphasize improvement in our bilateral relationship is contingent uponCambodian leadership taking meaningful steps to address concerns about the PRC’s military presence at Ream Naval Base,democratic backsliding,andrespect forhuman rightsand labor rights.

U.S.-Cambodia Relations

• U.S.-Cambodiarelations are based on strong historical and cultural linkages.Enduringtiesbetween the American and Cambodian people,as well ascooperation onUN mattersandonforeign assistanceprograms,provide avenues to engage on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.The United States lauds Cambodia’s condemnation of Russia’sunprovokedinvasion of Ukraine.

• The United States urges Cambodia to be fully transparent about present and future PRC activities at Ream Naval Base, to support multi-party democracy and independent democratic institutions, and to make progress on protecting and respecting human rights, including freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

• The United States also urges Cambodia to take meaningful steps to reopen political and civic space. We also urge Cambodia to do more to address systemic corruption and trafficking in persons, which inhibit Cambodia’s development.

• The United States is committed to the Cambodian people and their aspirations for a more prosperous, democratic, and independent country, where all voices are heard and respected and the Kingdom’s autonomy is protected.

• The United StatesthanksCambodiafor itsleadership of ASEAN during a challenging yearandlooks forward to finding ways to improve relations between our two countries. We want to see Cambodia succeed.

U.S. Assistance to Cambodia

• With U.S. support, the Kingdom has experienced decades of robust economic growth and made significant progresstoward achievingitsSustainable Development Goals, includingbyreducing poverty andaddressingthe remnants of past conflicts.

• Over the last 30 years, the United States has provided $3 billion inforeign assistance forhealth,includinghealth security; education;food security;economic growth;national reconciliation;theenvironment;and clearance of unexploded ordnance and landmines.

• U.S. agencieshavecooperated closely with Cambodia in navigating the global pandemic by providing technical assistance,$15.3 million in supplemental emergency fundsto supportCOVID-19response needs, anddonatingover three millionsafe and effectivevaccine dosesin partnership with COVAX.

• The United States has helped improve labor conditions in theCambodiangarment sectorfor more than 20 yearsby supporting theInternational Labor Organization’s“Better Factories Cambodia”factory monitoring program—considered a model for similar programs worldwide.

• U.S. law enforcement agencies have provided training and cooperation onchild protection, DPRK sanctions enforcement,and trafficking in persons.

People-to-People TiesPlayan Important Role in U.S.-Cambodia Relations

• ManyCambodianshavepersonalties to the United States; some are dual U.S.-Cambodian citizens, have relatives among the 300,000 Cambodian-Americans in the United States, or have a U.S. education.

• U.S. efforts in Cambodia aim to engage youth, women, and minority populations to advocate forinclusive governance;build the voice of civil society;promote democratic principles and human rights; and engage with entrepreneurs to improve regional interconnectivity and increase U.S. trade opportunities.

• Since 2012, the Ambassador’s Youth Council has enhanced our people-to-people diplomacy through direct, regular engagement between the Ambassador and diverse cohorts of young leaders from around the Kingdom.

• U.S. assistance programs have built the capacity of future generations, benefitted farmers and rural poor households, supported indigenous communities, and improved the livelihoods of millions of Cambodians.

• Over 3,500 Cambodians have participated in U.S.-funded exchange programs. The Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI), International Visitor Leadership Program, and Fulbright Programs provide an opportunity to engage with U.S. students and professionals and provide emerging Cambodian leaders with knowledge of U.S. foreign policy, rule of law, global security, and American culture.

• U.S.-fundedEnglish languagefellows and Peace Corps volunteers have provided English language skillsfor thousands of young Cambodians.

• The United States and Cambodia have a decades-long record of working successfully together on the protection and preservation of Cambodia’s cultural heritage. Through a bilateral cultural property MOU in effect since 2003, theUnited States has facilitated the return ofscoresof priceless Khmer artifactslootedfrom Cambodia. Through the Department’s U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, the United States has invested $4.5 million in the preservation of Cambodia’s cultural sites and collections, including at Angkor Archaeological Park and other iconic monuments.

U.S.-Cambodia Economicand HealthCooperation

• The United States is Cambodia’s largest export market by far, accounting for over 40 percent of Cambodia’s total exports. The countryhasbenefitted greatly from the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

• Cambodia exported $8.7 billion of goods in 2021 to the United States, an increase of 33 percent from 2020.The garment, footwear, and travel goods sectors make up the majority of Cambodia’s exports and together employ over 1 million Cambodians, the majority of whom are women.

• Since 1992,as part ofthe United States’foreign assistance activities,the United States has invested more than $377 million inhealth assistancein Cambodia to address infant and maternal mortality, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and nutrition and to strengthen Cambodia’s ability to finance and manage logistics and information for its health systems.

• The U.S. governmentinvestssubstantiallyin Cambodia’sresilience against future pandemicsbysupporting improvements to global health security capacities under the Global Health Security Agenda.

• Additional support for the COVID-19 response has been delivered through CDC, NIH, and Naval Advanced Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) personnel based at Embassy Phnom Penh. CDC has invested in building workforce capacity, establishing surveillance, and providing technical assistance for pandemic preparedness and response for over 20 years, including the response to COVID-19 and the global monkeypox outbreak.