Abstract

Cambodia-USA relations had been further strenghtened and expanded following the deposition of Prince Norodom Sihanouk as Head of State on 18 March 1970. From 1970 to 1975, during the Khmer Republic led by Marshal Lon Nol, the relations between Cambodia and the United States of America were closer and more active than ever before. And then the two countries had become close military allies.

The United States of America strongly supported the Khmer Republic, both in the fields of politics, diplomac, economy, and especially in the military one, with a view to preventing the regime from falling to the Khmer resistance headed by Prince Norodom Sihanouk, and to protecting the US interest in the Vietnam war as well.

Even though the United States and its allies had tried their best to protect the Khmer Republic, the latter could not survive any longer because in the end the people and the rank-and-file soldiers lost confidence in the leaders of the Khmer Republic as they were incompetent and corrupt. Meanwhile, the resistance movement enjoyed strong support from the people and soldiers. When the USKhmer Republic further deteriorated. assistance and presence came to an end, the military situation of the

These three main reasons made the Khmer Republic lose the five-year bloody war and fall to the Khmer Rouge on 17 April 1975. Following the US withdrawal from Cambodia on 12 April 1975, all diplomatic relations and US assistance were cut off since.

Institution: Royal Academy of Cambodia

Supervisor: Mr. Ros Chantrabot (Ph.D)

Degree: Master of Political Science