RAYONG, Thailand: Thailand and the United States have begun joint military exercises with more than 7,000 personnel and forces from 30 countries, as part of “Cobra Gold”, one of the world’s longest-running multilateral military exercises and the largest in Southeast Asia.
After the drills were scaled back during the pandemic, nearly 6,000 U.S. troops will take part this year, Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, said, the highest number in a decade.
Speaking to reporters, Aquilino noted, “We will conduct integrated ops across the land, sea, air and cyberspace with our partners.”
The exercises, which will run until March 10, demonstrate how countries responding together would help “to preserve a free and open Indo Pacific, so that all nations can maintain peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
This year, the drills will include a space exercise for the first time, with a focus on understanding the impact of aerial phenomena, such as solar storms, on military operations, communication and satellites, a U.S. embassy statement said.
Cobra Gold involves seven full participants, including Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.
China, India and Australia are taking part in the humanitarian exercises.