'Important sign' as Royal Navy ship visits Cambodia naval base built by China to disrupt Beijing influence
.jpg?width=96&crop=1:1,smart)
This is the third such visit to Cambodia since 2023 as part of an effort to ‘deepen’ the relationship with the UK
British sailors have visited a naval base in Cambodia which was built by China to deepen western relationships.
Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tamar, based in Portsmouth and forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific, sailed to Ream Naval Base this week in what has been deemed as a historic visit. Diplomatic engagements between UK and Cambodian counterparts will take place, according to the British Embassy there.
The embassy added that a growing defence relationship between both nations is a “commitment to openness and engagement with international partners”. Joint training will also be conducted with the Royal Cambodian Navy. This will include medical response drills, casualty care, and other onboard exercises.
China partially funded the construction of Ream Naval Base, but the Southeast Asian nation has not given Beijing exclusive military access. The British Embassy said the visit “recognises Cambodia's sovereign right to pursue diverse and balanced defence relationships with partners across the region and beyond”. “Together, the visits demonstrate the steady expansion of UK-Cambodia defence cooperation and the Royal Navy's enduring commitment to regional engagement,” they added.
A report by the Kiripost in Cambodia said the previous naval base, built by the US, was demolished. This sparked criticism about China’s control over Cambodia’s defences.
Since April 2025, the country has hosted diplomatic visits from the US, Russia, China, and Japan. HMS Tamar's visit is the third Royal Navy engagement since 2023. Her sister ship, HMS Spey, conducted Royal Cambodian Navy joint training in 2023 and 2024.
British Ambassador to Cambodia Dominic Williams said the Royal Navy’s sailors are “among the finest in the world”. Reported in the Kiripost, he said: “This first port call to Ream Naval Base is a sign of our deepening naval relationship, building on previous visits by HMS Spey to Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and complementing the training of two Cambodian naval cadets currently at the UK's elite Britannia Royal Navy College in Dartmouth.
“I am grateful to the Royal Government for welcoming HMS Tamar and look forward to Cambodia-UK defence relations continuing to grow in the years ahead.”
Commanding Officer Tom Lindsey added: “Our visit to this beautiful country is an important sign of our growing partnership as together we build cooperation across the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia. We particularly look forward to working alongside our partners in the Royal Cambodian Navy, training together our medical and seamanship skills.”