US ends military academy program with Cambodia

The U.S. has ended its military academy program with Cambodia due to concerns about China’s military presence in the country, Reuters reported on Thursday.

U.S. Embassy spokesperson Arend Zwartjes told Voice of America that they ended the program after Cambodia ended their military cooperation in some areas. 

“Following Cambodia’s curtailment of cooperation in several areas of traditional bilateral military-military engagement, the country lost its eligibility for the U.S. military service academy program,” Zwartjes said. 

Zwartjes also said that Cambodian students still enrolled in the program will be able to complete their undergraduate studies. 

The move comes amid growing U.S. concerns over China building its military presence in the Southeast Asian country, which is one of its closest allies in the region, Reuters reported.

Hun Manet, son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who serves as deputy commander and joint chief of staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, is a notable graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Reuters noted.