Thailand, US launch multinational military exercises

Thailand and the US are co-hosting the 37th Cobra Gold military exercises, the Asia’s largest multinational drill, in Thailand from February 13-23, attracting over 11,000 personnel from 29 countries.

Cobra Gold is the biggest annual multinational drill in Asia, which began as a bilateral drill between Thailand and the US

The annual event aims to increase the coordination capacity of participating countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, China and Malaysia, to address maritime security threats, natural disasters and epidemics.

The US scaled down its presence and military support for Thailand after the military coup in May 2014, including for Cobra Gold.

But this year's exercise has drawn 6,800 US military personnel, nearly double the number last year.

China, which joined the activity for the first time in 2014, sent 44 soldiers to take part in humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief drills.

Cobra Gold is the biggest annual multinational drill in Asia, which began as a bilateral drill between Thailand and the US.

VNA

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