US and Thailand begin military exercise

THAILAND and the United States have teamed up for their annual Cobra Gold military exercise, with South Korea participating for the first time.

The US Embassy said that Japan, Singapore and Indonesia would also join in the three-week training exercise, which the US military describes as the largest of its type in the world.  It will comprise of about 11,500 personnel, including 6,000 from the US.

At the opening ceremony in the eastern province of Rayong, US Ambassador Eric G. John spoke of Cobra Gold, now in its 29th year acts as an important symbol of US military commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region.

The main exercise will highlight the multilateral peacekeeping operations and humanitarian disaster responses. Thailand is one of five nations in the region which has a functioning security alliance with the US.

Cobra Gold is designed to ensure regional peace and to strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to defend Thailand.  The programme is funded by the US government in order to develop training under the international military education and training programme.