For the first time in 8 years, a US Navy ship makes a port call in Cambodia, a top Chinese ally

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship arrived Monday in Cambodia, the first such visit in eight years to a nation that is China’s close ally in Southeast Asia. Cambodia's government has suggested the port call reflects an upgrade in often-strained relations.

The USS Savannah docked at the port of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand for a five-day visit. The Savannah, classed as a Littoral Combat Ship, carries a crew of 103.

“It’s great to be back, returning U.S. presence to here after eight years,” the ship’s commanding officer, Daniel A. Sledz, said in brief remarks to reporters. He was given a bouquet of flowers by a Cambodian officer and shook hands with a line of her colleagues.

The United States for many years has had rocky relations with Cambodia, criticizing its government for political repression and human rights violations. There is particular concern about its close ties with China, which Washington fears may get exclusive access to a Cambodian naval base on the Gulf of Thailand, not far from where the Savannah docked.

Recently, there seem to have been moves to patch up relations.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said last week that the visit was scheduled after a U.S. request for a port call, and would “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation” between the two nations.

Two days before that, Cambodia’s foreign ministry noted “positive momentum of bilateral ties and cooperation” and “the reinvigoration of military-to-military cooperation” between Cambodia and the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Cambodia in early June, where he held talks with Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior officials. He also met with Cambodian alumni of U.S. military training programs. Hun Manet himself is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The U.S. Defense Department said at the time that Austin's discussions concerned “opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral defense relationship in support of regional peace and security,” and other matters.

But Washington remains concerned that the upgrading of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base near Sihanoukville will serve Beijing’s strategic interests in the region.

The U.S. and others suggest China’s navy is establishing a permanent base at Ream, which would give it easier access to the Malacca Strait, a critical shipping route between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Controversy over the Chinese activity at Ream initially arose in 2019 when The Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of an agreement seen by U.S. officials would allow China 30-year use of the base, where it would be able to post military personnel, store weapons and berth warships.

Cambodia’s government has denied such an agreement or any intention to grant China special privileges at the base, though Beijing has funded its expansion.

In September, Cambodia’s Defense Ministry said that China is giving its navy two warships of the type it has had docked there for months. China is set to hand over two newly built Type 56 corvettes — smaller vessels typically used for coastal patrols — next year at the earliest, after Cambodia requested China’s support.

Cambodia’s defense ministry said the Savannah’s port call will include “a working meeting with the commander of the Ream Naval Base,” as well as meetings with provincial officials and “a friendship sports competition between the crews of the U.S. Navy and the Cambodian Navy.”

Cambodian Navy Capt. Mean Savoeun, deputy commander of the Ream Naval Base, was among those dockside welcoming the Savannah to Sihanoukville. He said he was happy to see the good relationship between Cambodia and the U.S., especially their navies, and believed the visit will bring closer diplomatic cooperation.

Daniel A. Sledz, center, commanding officer of USS Savannah, meets with Cambodian Deputy Commander of Ream Naval Base, Capt. Mean Savoeun, right, as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian naval troop stand for welcoming USS Savannah as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Daniel A. Sledz, left, commanding officer of USS Savannah, receives a bouquet of flowers from Cambodian naval staff members as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Daniel A. Sledz, left, commanding officer of USS Savannah, shakes hands with Cambodian Deputy Commander of Ream Naval Base, Capt. Mean Savoeun, front right, as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian port members tie USS Savannah as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

FILE - This photo released by the official Facebook page of the Ream Naval Base, shows a part of Cambodian Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (Ream Naval Base's Facebook page via AP, File)

FILE - In this photo released by the official Facebook page of the Ream Naval Base, Cambodian navy crew stand on a patrol boat at the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. (Ream Naval Base's Facebook page via AP, File)

Daniel A. Sledz, left, commanding officer of USS Savannah, shakes hands with a Cambodian naval staff member as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

A Cambodian flag flutters as USS Savannah arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Daniel A. Sledz, left, commanding officer of USS Savannah, talks with a Cambodian naval staff member as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian naval troop stand for welcoming USS Savannah as it arrives for a port call at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Chelsea was back on the coaching carousel under its American ownership on Thursday after Enzo Maresca left his position as manager following a reported deterioration in his relationship with the Premier League club’s hierarchy.

There was no immediate announcement regarding the successor to Maresca. The BBC and The Athletic reported that Liam Rosenior, who coaches French team Strasbourg — a club in the same ownership group as Chelsea, is a leading contender.

Maresca was midway through his second year in charge, having won the Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season at Chelsea.

However, the team has endured a turbulent last few months — Chelsea has won just one of its last seven Premier League matches to drop to fifth place — while Maresca publicly expressed his unhappiness at a lack of support at the club in a post-match news conference on Dec. 13, when the Italian said he had just experienced his “worst” 48 hours at Chelsea.

“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football," Chelsea said in a statement, "Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”

Chelsea has advanced to the English League Cup semifinals, where it will play Arsenal over two legs, and begins its FA Cup campaign away to second-tier Charlton on Jan. 10. In the Champions League, Chelsea is in 13th place in the 36-team league, two points off the eight automatic qualification spots with two rounds of matches left.

Chelsea is seeking a fifth full-time manager since the takeover of the club by American investors, fronted by Todd Boehly, in May 2022.

In the past 3 1/2 years, Chelsea has spent hundreds of million of pounds (dollars) in what looked from the outside a chaotic bid to sign players to refresh its squad. It now has one of the youngest and most talented squads in the Premier League, with star players including Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Estevao, but managers have struggled to get the players to gel as a team after so many changes.

Out of all the managers to have led Chelsea in that period — and they include Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino, the current coaches of England and the United States, respectively — Maresca appeared to have handled the chaos the best.

Yet he reportedly didn’t feel appreciated given the tough working conditions and, according to the BBC, recently switched agents. A few weeks ago, media reports in England linked Maresca with a possible move to Manchester City — where he briefly worked under Pep Guardiola — should Guardiola eventually leave, though Maresca played the reports down.

Chelsea’s results have taken a downturn since a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League in November.

The team’s only league win in the past month was over Everton, 2-0. There have been draws with Arsenal, Newcastle and Bournemouth (twice) and losses to Leeds and Aston Villa.

Its next game is at plays second-place Man City on Sunday.

Chelsea said its achievements under Maresca “will remain an important part of the club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club.”

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FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Chelsea, in Bergamo, Italy, on Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

FILE - Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca sits on a bench ahead of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo, File)

Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca, left, gives instructions to Estevao during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)