Heng Chivoan

The United States has donated 60 cargo trucks to the military.

The United States has handed over 31 used military cargo trucks to the Cambodian army, half of which will be used to boost Cambodia's counter-terrorism and maritime security operations, according to a statement from the US embassy.

The shipment delivered June 2 was part of a 60-truck consignment costing $413,000 that was pledged by the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program and marks the first time in more than a decade that Washington has directly supplied military equipment to Cambodia.

US military assistance was halted in 1997 following factional fighting between troops loyal to the ruling Cambodian People's Party and fighters with the royalist Funcinpec that killed scores of people.

After the resumption of military relations between the two countries in 2006, a joint assessment by both militaries identified mobility as one of the Cambodian army's biggest weaknesses, said US embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle.

Other problem areas include border security, communications and the ability to engage in peacekeeping operations.

The remaining 16 trucks will be allocated to future peacekeeping missions, the embassy said.

“Other requests are in the system,” but no arrangements for further US military aid have been made, Daigle said.

The US has granted about $3.2 million in FMF assistance to Cambodia since the restoration of military ties, the embassy said.