BANGKOK, Feb 28 – The United States and Thailand on Tuesday began the annual military exercise Cobra Gold in full scale, with a total of 30 participating countries to enhance military interoperability in the region.
Co-hosted in Thailand by the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command, this year’s exercise is the 42nd iteration with a total of 7,394 personnel from 30 countries. The military exercise will be held between Feb 27 and March 10 in Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Chantaburi and Lopburi.
Thailand Chief of Defence Forces General Chalermpol Srisawasdi and United States Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec presided over the Cobra Gold 2023 opening ceremony at the Royal Thai Naval Airbase, Royal Thai Air Fleet in Rayong on Tuesday.
Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. John Aquilino said Cobra Gold military exercise would strengthen the ability to plan, conduct combined operations, peacekeeping operations across all domains.
“Through Cobra Gold, we demonstrate our resolve to respond together to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific so that all nations can maintain peace, stability and prosperity,” he said at the opening ceremony today.
Chalermpol said Cobra Gold is a symbol of continuing and developing military cooperation.
“The open and transparent training and fostering of relationship among all make this exercise unique and outstanding.
“The scope of military operations enhances our regional stability and to handle the full spectrum of threats in all domains including land, sea, air, cyber and space.
“Peacekeeping operations, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are also included. All of these will help us maintain our regional security and to be ready to provide necessary assistance in disaster relief,” he said.
In this edition Cobra Gold, the core exercises including the Command Post Exercise (CPX) is a total force exercise to handle all domain operations – land, sea, air, cyber, and space, humanitarian and disaster relief exercises, and field training exercises.
This year, it is the first time the space exercise included in the joint combined operational staff planning exercise.
There are seven fully participating countries – Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Malaysia.
A total of 43 Malaysian personnel are participating in the annual exercise this year. It is the sixth time Malaysia is participating in Cobra Gold.
China, India, and Australia are joining the humanitarian assistance exercise.
