Cambodia pivots away from US after cancellation of joint military exercises

[TomSea]

Cambodia pivots away from US after cancellation of joint military exercises

JUST days before the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Cambodia announced that it was cancelling its joint military exercises with the United States, known as Angkor Sentinel, until at least 2019.

Defense Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat attributed the decision to two key reasons. First, the military was too busy enforcing a national anti-drug campaign, which was launched last month following a visit from Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte.

Second, with commune elections scheduled for June, the armed forces are needed to “protect the good security and public order for the people,” he told reporters.

Continued: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2017/01/cambodia-pivots-away-us-cancellation-joint-military-exercises/