US to send 6,800 soldiers for Cobra Gold exercises

The United States is sending 6,800 soldiers to participate in the upcoming Cobra Gold military exercises, according to a statement released by the US embassy.

The 37th Cobra Gold will be held from Feb 13 to 23 in Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Chachoengsao.

Troops from more than 30 countries will participate in military exercises or serve as observers. The Thai armed forces said earlier that 5,600 Thai soldiers are set to take part.

The training, according to the US embassy, is aimed at boosting relations between countries joining the exercises as well as fostering cooperation to ensure marine security and coordinated responses to major international disasters.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Royal Thai Naval Air Division at U-tapao naval base in Rayong on Feb 13. Four days later, an amphibious assault exercise will be conducted at Hat Yao in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district in the morning. In the afternoon, a drill on evacuating people from a conflict zone will be held on the same beach.

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises will be conducted in Chachoengsao on Feb 22. The following day, a live-fire drill and the closing ceremony will be organised in Chanthaburi.

Meanwhile, China has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out military drills with Thailand.

This was addressed by Chinese military attache to Thailand, Zhang Li, who paid a courtesy call on Supreme Commander Thanchaiyan Srisuwan yesterday at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. Maj Gen Zhang made the visit on his departure from the post.

Maj Gen Zhang reiterated the cordial ties between the two armed forces, which he said have continued to develop.

The constructive development of bilateral military ties is evident in the planned joint military drills, with the two armed forces having also worked together on counter-terrorism operations, military education and peacekeeping missions, he said.

Referring to the Cobra Gold military exercises, Maj Gen Zhang said Chinese military personnel would join sessions on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, civic relations and construction projects.

Gen Thanchaiyan, meanwhile, praised Maj Gen Zhang for his performance in the attache post, saying ties had deepened between the two nations.