British Warship HMS Tamar Docks at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base
British Warship HMS Tamar Docks at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base
PHNOM PENH, August 20, 2026 — — British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Tamar arrived at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Thursday in the first-ever visit by a Royal Navy ship to the facility, marking a new step in growing defence cooperation between Britain and Cambodia.
The visit on August 20 includes professional military exchanges, maritime cooperation and community engagement, while underscoring Britain’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order, according to information provided by the British side.
The historic port call is also among the relatively few visits by foreign naval vessels to Ream since the facility was reopened in April 2025.
British Ambassador to Cambodia Dominic Williams welcomed the arrival of HMS Tamar and its commander, Tom Lindsey, saying the visit demonstrated progress in naval relations between the two countries.
The deployment follows previous visits by the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey to the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in 2023 and 2024, which included joint training and professional exchanges with the Cambodian navy.
Williams also pointed to ongoing British support for Cambodian naval personnel, including two Cambodian naval students currently studying at the Britannia Royal Navy College in Dartmouth.
For HMS Tamar commander Tom Lindsey, the visit was a significant opportunity to deepen the partnership.
He said the ship’s visit was a sign of growing cooperation between Britain and Cambodia as the two sides work together in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia.
During the visit, HMS Tamar’s crew and Cambodian naval personnel are expected to conduct joint training covering medical response, casualty care, damage control and other maritime skills.
The activities are intended to promote professional development, mutual learning and greater interoperability between the two navies.
The visit is the third Royal Navy deployment to Cambodia since 2023, according to the statement, and reflects Britain’s continued efforts to strengthen defence engagement and partnerships in the region.
