More than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries are taking part in Cobra Gold, one of the largest and longest running multinational military exercises in Southeast Asia.
The annual exercises are being held in many provinces across Thailand until March 6, aiming to strengthen coordination among participating nations and develop military capabilities to align with current global circumstances.
At the opening ceremony at U-Tapao Royal Thai Airfield in Rayong province on Tuesday, US Ambassador to Thailand Sean O’Neill emphasised that Cobra Gold remained necessary to address emerging threats.
“As the world changes, so must Cobra Gold. We must always ensure Cobra Gold adapts to meet new challenges and improves the interoperability we need to defend our sovereignty and prosperity now, and in the future,” he said.