Cambodia has postponed two joint military programs with Australia, the Australian Department of Defence confirmed.

A counter-terrorism training activity and a maritime security workshop – which is being rescheduled at Cambodia’s request – were both delayed, according to the Department of Defence.

“Other aspects of our defence cooperation program with Cambodia are continuing as normal,” the statement concludes.

On Monday, US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a press briefing that the “Cambodian Ministry of Defence postponed or cancelled a number of international military programs, including with the United States.”

Harf linked it to the elections, a claim later denied by the Ministry of Defence, which on Tuesday called the postponements normal and denied that any other countries’ programs were similarly affected.

The delay of the joint programs came after Prime Minister Hun Sen challenged the US to follow through on calls to cut off direct aid to Cambodia if elections were not “free and fair”.