by Natthaphon  Sangpolsit

    

BANGKOK (NNT) - Thai and US military forces recently concluded two concurrent military exercises known as Cobra Gold and Hanuman Guardian. The first is a long-running multinational military exercise held in Thailand every year, while the second focuses on paratroopers and bolstering the capacities of the Thai and US armed forces.

 

The Hanuman Guardian 2022 joint exercise was launched on Thursday (24 Feb). Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Narongphan Jitkaewtae and US Charge d’Affaires Michael Heath presided over the inauguration ceremony.

 

The Hanuman Guardian exercise for paratroopers – now in its 11th year – was held for two days, from February 24 to 25, in the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Lopburi. Around 1,000 troops from the Thai army and some 600 US troops participated in the exercise while closely adhering to COVID-19 prevention protocols. All participants were required to remain within the training grounds at all times and travel by chartered flights.

 

Army Deputy Chief Gen Supachok Thawatpeerachai on Thursday observed a Cobra Gold Command Post Exercise (CPX) in Rayong province, after which he received a summary and was briefed on the results.

 

Cobra Gold is the largest joint military exercise in Southeast Asia. The Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command jointly host the drills every year to boost military ties between friendly nations. Cobra Gold also aims to improve combat management for application in crisis situations. This year marked the 41st time that the exercise was held. Cobra Gold 2022 runs from February 20 to March 5 under a Bubble and Seal COVID-19 prevention approach.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-02-26

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai generals don't want the exercise. They're more interested in the deployments they do with China.  The US needs some strong pushback, here. It needs to stop begging and caving in to Thailand in the hope that they'll return to being a reliable US ally. They aren't and they'll never be again.  

Quote

“Thailand has become increasingly dependent on China for its major arms purchases, including submarines, surface warfare ships, tanks, armoured personnel carriers,” Abuza said . . . . “I think China watches Thailand now the way a snake watches a mouse in its cage, with patience.”    https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3167485/bangkoks-china-ties-focus-us-thailand-cobra-gold-military-drills

 

Jesus..... 

Those Disney movie names for drills Cobra and Hanuman . beware

I'm guessing those here that were crying about the US military/Cobra Gold must feel like total <deleted>, sad lot,  scared of a few hundred/thousand military men in a country with millions of available women, 555.  

The Thai army has great fighters, in Vietnam when I was there in 1967-68 they only had a small force but they fought well and over 300 had died. I for one am proud to see them in  drills with American units.

1 hour ago, sead said:

Jesus..... 

Those Disney movie names for drills Cobra and Hanuman . beware

Wonder what your Jesus would think? 

A cynical view perhaps, but Cobra Gold is becoming irrelevant.

One of it's main purposes was for the logistics and maintenance people to assess and repair the kit the Americans had supplied.

 

More and more of that kit has become obsolete and basically out of service or beyond repair with no more spares.

No snakes were harmed during the recent exercises.

 

RTA forces train in the U.S. all the time.

 

Two weeks ago

 

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Paratroopers with the U.S. Army and Royal Thai Army conducted joint airborne operations onto Joint Base Lewis McChord’s Rogers Drop Zone, Feb. 15 and Feb. 18, 2022. The exercise prepares the partnered forces for a joint Strategic Airborne Operation in Thailand later this month.

 

https://www.army.mil/article/254262/us_royal_thai_army_paratroopers_conduct_bilateral_airborne_operation_at_jblm

 

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/832251/us-and-thai-paratroopers-conduct-bilateral-airborne-training

17 hours ago, vandeventer said:

The Thai army has great fighters, in Vietnam when I was there in 1967-68 they only had a small force but they fought well and over 300 had died. I for one am proud to see them in  drills with American units.

That's certainly true.

My wife's favorite uncle was one of them.

He served in Vietnam as a young infantryman and came back as a master sergeant.

When I first met him he was finishing out his career as head of the motor pool at Kawila Barracks in Chiang Mai.

Still alive today in his 80s.

As MacArthur said in his farewell address, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away".

While Gen. Watch looks like he needs this exercise, it's a pointless waste of tax money.