It is expected that the FBI will provide equipment and share its techniques to combat crimes, including drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, counterfeiting of goods, visa fraud and money laundering.

National Police chief Neth Savoeun is leading a delegation, which includes the Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Immigration director-general Kirth Chantharith, to the US from April 5-10.

The visit comes after an invitation by the FBI to exchange experiences and reinforce cooperation in the fight against crime.

National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun said at a press conference before departing to the US on Thursday that the visit has two main goals.

The first is to exchange experiences and bolster cooperation and dialogue to strengthen the Kingdom’s crime-fighting capabilities.

The second serves to sign an MoU to create a joint operations group to combat transnational crime and address other issues of mutual interest.

“The memorandum of understanding will be signed by the National Police, the General Department of Immigration and the FBI.​ There is a general consensus that it will result in the provision of material and technical assistance and training for Cambodian officials."

“It will be the first time a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the FBI. There is already valuable cooperation between our countries in transnational cases, but investigative collaboration needs to be expanded because cross-border crimes have increased and we need to work together,” Kim Khoeun said.

However, he said the real benefits of the six-day mission will only be clear after it is complete because, during the visit, the FBI will show the delegates its methods and experiences in more detail.

Royal Academy of Cambodia president Sok Touch said it often seems that people think Cambodia and the US are not on good terms with each other, but that is not the case.

“Transnational terrorism is not going to stop. So collaborating worldwide is a chance to tackle the matter. If we are politically divisive, terrorists can take advantage,” he said.

Social researcher and political analyst Meas Nee said it was necessary for the US to cooperate with regional countries like Cambodia because the US is concerned about the spread of this terrorism.

“It is extremely useful to have a collaboration to mitigate transnational crime. The US is looking to cooperate with small countries to curb terrorism and make sure those nations don’t become attractive locations for terrorists,” he said.

But Nee disagreed with Touch and said inking an MoU with the US at this time does not mean the two countries were on good terms.

He said Cambodia should seize the chance and take advantage of this dialogue for any political gain it can obtain as the mission only focused only cooperating to safeguard security.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kingdom-ink-mou-fbi