News and Analysis, 16 December 2006, Resumption of U.S. Military Assistance

The U.S Senate Foreign Appropriations Committee has approved approximately one million dollars of military assistance to Cambodia. Military assistance to Cambodia has been suspended since the 1997 factional fighting between Hun Sen’s Cambodian Peoples Party and FUNCINPEC. Cambodia has been a strong supporter of the U.S. global war on terrorism and cooperation between the two countries in the counter-terrorism arena has been ongoing for several years. (Comment – Although none of the money has yet to be committed, it is likely that the focus will be providing training and limited equipment to selected border battalions, possibly training and equipment for the 911 Airborne Commando Brigade, which is designated as the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) CT unit, as well as working towards the professionlization of RCAF officers. It will be interesting to see if RCAF officers will be offered slots at U.S. military schools under the International Military and Education Training Program (IMET). [slr]