U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed his pleasure in visiting Cambodia for a second time within a month.
Austin thanked Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen for welcoming him for the second time.
The Pentagon chief told Hun Sen that the U.S. remains interested in developing its defense ties with Cambodia and offered to help strengthen security in the Southeast Asian nation.
China is Cambodia’s largest trading partner and main source of development assistance, with both Asian nations to have survived the test of time despite the West’s criticisms over their close bilateral ties.
Hun Sen, who served as the former Prime Minister of Cambodia, stepped down from his post in 2023.
He ruled as the country’s prime minister for 38 years which made him the longest-serving head of government in the nation’s history.
His son Hun Manet took over as the new prime minister of Cambodia. Despite his Western education background, Hun Manet pledged to follow his father’s footsteps in maintaining strong bilateral ties with China.
In May, Hun Sen assured that the change in leadership, which saw his son succeeding him as prime minister, has not changed the country’s position towards China and will remain its trustworthy friend.
