English has gained increasing prominence across Southeast Asia due to globalization, economic integration, and its role as a working language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In Cambodia, English has emerged as the dominant foreign language and plays a critical role in education, employment, and international engagement. This paper examines the current status of English as a subject in basic education (ESBE) in Cambodia. Drawing on secondary sources, including existing literature and policy documents, the paper discusses the evolution of English language education in Cambodia, its implementation in basic education, and the key challenges affecting the implementation. Key challenges include disparities in educational resources, limited teacher capacity, lack of learning motivation, limited opportunities for authentic language exposure, potential decline of Khmer literacy and loss of indigenous languages, and examination-oriented teaching practices. The paper proposes several strategic directions for strengthening English language education in Cambodia, including improving teacher education and professional development, reforming the English curriculum and assessment, increasing investment in educational resources, enhancing Khmer literacy and indigenous language preservation, and promoting regional collaboration. The paper contributes to the growing body of scholarship on English language education in Cambodia and in Southeast Asia more broadly. It also provides policy-relevant insights for improving English language teaching and learning in Cambodia.