OPINION: India-Cambodia Ties Deepening

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni's recent visit to India is sure to boost relations between the two nations. New Delhi may focus on deepening its defence cooperation with Cambodia . Communist China is building a secret naval base in Ream, Cambodia. It is just about 1200 kilometres away from India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni's recent visit to India is sure to boost relations between the two nations. Observers say this was the first- ever visit by a Cambodian king to India after about six decades. It was way back in 1963 that the then Cambodian King, the current one's father, visited the country .

During his India visit , King Sihamoni was accompanied by a 27-member high-level Cambodian delegation, including his Ministers of the Royal Palace and Foreign Affairs. His visit marked the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia.

During his sojourn in New Delhi, the King held discussions with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on key areas, including capacity building, the conservation of architectural monuments, defence cooperation, and parliamentary cooperation.

President Droupadi Murmu accorded the King a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the king at the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also called on the King .

The observers say the deliberations King Sihamoni had in India would further deepen ties between the two nations . The two countries have had civilisational, cultural and economic linkages with each other .India has always considered Cambodia as a civilizational sister country. Hinduism and Buddhism-India's major religious philsophies-- have had an indelible influence on Cambodian society since ancient times. Cambodians are predominantly Buddhist. Once Cambodia had a Hindu King , named Suryanarayana. There is still a strong influence of Brahminical rituals and mythology in the country.

In modern times, India has had the approach of friendliness towards Cambodia. In the 1950s, India contributed a lot to the International Control Commission on Indo-China. After the collapse of the inhuman Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia in the late seventies , India was among the first nations to recognize it new government. New Delhi reopened its Embassy in the country in 1981.

The bilateral relations between New Delhi and Phnom Penh have been reinforced by several high level visits between each other. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Cambodia in April 2002 and November 2002. His successor Manmohan Singh visited Cambodia in November 2012. in In August 2018, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited Cambodia. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has visited India many times. He was a Guest of Honour at the Republic Day Parade 2018 .

Over the years, India and Cambodia have signed various agreements and memoranda in the fields of trade and commerce, cultural exchanges, capacity building, economic development and conservation. India today actively assists Cambodia in its capacity building through the programmes of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). India is helping Cambodia in the conservation of its ancient temples in Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm and Preah Vihar .

According to a report, trade between the two countries is growing . During fiscal 2023-23 it stood at over $366 million . Indian investments in Cambodia stood at about $115 million, with the major sectors being pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mining.

The observers say New Delhi and Phnom Penh must take all steps to further their ties. India has had the policy of " the world is our guest" ( Vasudhaive kutumbakam). This policy guides India's current presidency of the G-20. As part of this, New Delhi is spearheading the interest of developing countries of the Global South. It is in the interest of the humanity in Cambodia too. Cambodia would thus do well to back India in this enterprise .

On its part, the observers add, New Delhi could specifically focus on deepening its defence cooperation with Cambodia . It is good that in the recent years, India has conducted annual training capsule for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in Peacekeeping and Demining modules. The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard have made goodwill visits to Cambodia . But this would not suffice. Communist China has had expansionist designs in the region. Its military influence has of late been growing in Cambodia .

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen is said to be very much under Chinese influence. He describes China as his country's "most trustworthy friend." In March this year, China conducted its first-ever naval drills in the Cambodian waters.

China is building a secret naval base in Ream, Cambodia. China has plans to develop an air defence centre and a radar system near this base. The Ream base will be China's first naval one in the Indo-Pacific region. It is just about 1200 kilometres away from India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. New Delhi must remain cautious of its implications . New Delhi could appropriately activate its 'Act East' policy and weapon diplomacy in the region.

(Jagdish N. Singh is a senior journalist based in New Delhi. He is also Senior Distinguished Fellow at the Gatestone Institute, New York)

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