US Congratulates Cambodia on Independence Day, Reaffirms Support for “Strong, Independent, and Resilient” Nation

PHNOM PENH / WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov.10,2015)— The United States has congratulated Cambodia on its 72nd Independence Day, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirming Washington’s commitment to a “strong, independent, and resilient” Cambodia.

In a statement released Sunday, Rubio praised more than seven decades of U.S.–Cambodia relations, describing the partnership as grounded in “trust, mutual respect, and shared interests.”

“The growing U.S.–Cambodian partnership has brought prosperity, peace, and security to both our peoples,” Rubio said. “The United States looks forward to continuing our support for a strong, independent, and resilient Cambodia.”

Political analyst Yang Peou said bilateral ties had improved significantly after years of strained communication.​

“Over the past decade, both countries have faced challenges in communication, but under President Trump they have been able to reconnect and rebuild stronger ties,” Peou told reporters.

He cited the United States’ long-standing role in Cambodia’s development, including infrastructure projects dating back decades. He also highlighted Trump’s recent mediation of a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand as a “historic milestone.”

The statement followed the U.S. decision to lift its defense trade embargo on Cambodia, announced Nov. 6 after the ceasefire deal brokered by President Trump.
The embargo, imposed in 2021 under President Joe Biden, had restricted Cambodia’s access to U.S. military equipment amid concerns over Chinese influence, human rights, and corruption.

In a notice published in the Federal Register, Rubio said future arms sales would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, citing Cambodia’s “diligent pursuit of peace and security” and its “renewed engagement with the United States on defense cooperation and combating transnational crime.”

The move came after a bilateral meeting in Malaysia on Oct. 31, where U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha agreed to resume joint military exercises for the first time in several years.