Cobra Gold 2018 kicks off in Thailand

RAYONG, Feb 13 (TNA) - The 37th annual Cobra Gold military exercise, the largest one in South East Asia, kicks off in Rayong with more than 11,000 soldiers, taking part in the drill. Thailand's Chief of Defence Forces General Thanchaiyan Srisuwan and US ambassador Glyn T Davies co-chaired the opening of the Cobra Gold 2018 joint military exercise at the Royal Thai Naval Air Division at U-tapao naval base in Rayong. Troops from 29 countries are participating or attending as observers. Soldiers from seven countries, including Thailand, the US, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore take part in major drills. China and India send soldiers to join in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises. Ten countries participate in Multi-National Planning Augmentation Team exercises and ten others are observers. The military drill is aimed at enhancing cooperation among participating countries in security and to prepare for humanitarian missions and coordinated disaster response operations. Highlights of the exercise are the field training, attended by Thailand, US and South Korea on Feb 17 and the amphibious assault training from Feb 14-22 at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Strategic Studies Centre at Laem Thaen in Chon Buri. This year, the disaster relief operation training is included in the programme. Gen Thanchaiyan said all countries have close military ties. Thailand invited Myanmar to be an observer under the bilateral relation framework and it is not reducing role of the neighbouring country. Meanwhile, US commanding general Lt Gen Lawrence D. Nicholson of the III Marine Expeditionary Force said the Cobra Gold reiterated strong ties between Thailand and the US, which marks the 200 year anniversary this year. (TNA)