Ream Naval Base

Location

The Ream Naval Base is located on Cambodia’s Gulf of Thailand coast, near Sihanoukville. It has become a significant focal point of international attention due to its expansion and Chinese military involvement.

Recent Developments

• Inauguration and Expansion: On April 5, 2025, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet officially inaugurated the expanded Ream Naval Base. The project received substantial financial and technical support from China.
• While Cambodian officials maintain that these developments serve national defense interests, there are persistent concerns about the potential Chinese military presence at the base.

Strategic Significance

• Geostrategic Importance: The Ream Naval Base holds significant strategic importance due to its proximity to the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most vital maritime passages for global trade and energy shipments.
  • China’s involvement in the base's development has raised concerns about its broader intentions to establish a strategic foothold in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • This could potentially encircle India and bolster China’s naval presence in the South China Sea, a region of increasing geopolitical importance.
• Global Concerns: The expansion of Ream Naval Base has drawn reactions from multiple international stakeholders:
  • Satellite imagery has revealed the presence of Chinese warships at the base, heightening suspicions about the base’s potential role as a Chinese military outpost.

Implications for India and the Indo-Pacific

• Concerns for India: The expansion of Ream Naval Base has direct implications for India, especially regarding its maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The base’s proximity to critical sea lanes frequently used by the Indian Navy raises concerns about the risk of strategic encirclement.
  • If the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) establishes a presence at Ream, it could disrupt India’s operations in the region, particularly during regional conflicts.
• Impact on Maritime Security
• China's enhanced presence at Ream would increase its naval capabilities in Southeast Asia, potentially challenging India’s interests in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean Region.
• India may need to strengthen its naval presence in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to better monitor and counter Chinese activities in these strategic waters.

Ream Naval Base FAQs

Q1. What is the Ream Naval Base?
Ream Naval Base is a military facility in Cambodia, used by the Royal Cambodian Navy, with Chinese involvement in development.

Q2. What is the strongest naval base in the world?
The strongest naval base is typically considered to be the U.S. Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, due to its size and capabilities.

Source: TH