Royal Thai Marines maneuver through a military operation on an urban terrain complex as U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft fly overhead during an amphibious beach landing as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2020 at Hat Yao Beach, Sattahip, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 28, 2020.

Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan E. Gilbert

 

This year’s iteration of the annual exercise will feature more than 6,000 U.S. personnel, the largest number in a decade.

By Sebastian Strangio

The United States will send its largest contingent to this year’s Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand, officials from the two countries announced yesterday, as the two countries mark the 190th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

 

Officials from Thailand and the U.S. told reporters yesterday that after several years of COVID-19-related impacts and soured relations following Thailand’s 2014 coup d’etat, Cobra Gold Exercise 2023 will be back to full strength this year, with 7,394 troops from 30 countries slated to participate as exercise partners or observers.

 

The upcoming exercise, the 42nd iteration of Cobra Gold to be held since 1982, will take place between February 27 and March 10 in the Thai provinces of Lopburi, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, and Rayong.  Col. Kurt Leffler, the U.S. defense attaché in Thailand and chief of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, said that more than 6,000 U.S. personnel would be sent to participate in the event, “the largest U.S. participation in Cobra Gold in a decade,” according to a report by BenarNews. Last year’s exercises featured less than 3,500 participants, including less than 1,300 from the U.S.

 

Full story: https://thediplomat.com/2023/02/thailand-u-s-gear-up-for-full-strength-cobra-gold-exercises/

 

-- © Copyright The Diplomat 2023-02-18

 

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Will the US forces be given R and R in Pattaya to mingle with the Russian tourists?????

I'm surprised as Thailand seems to be moving more towards being under the Chinese sphere of influence.

Which enemy is Cobra Gold geared towards fighting exactly?

38 minutes ago, H1w4yR1da said:

I'm surprised as Thailand seems to be moving more towards being under the Chinese sphere of influence.

Which enemy is Cobra Gold geared towards fighting exactly?

You are 100 percent correct. Any insights the Thai military acquires from the US will go straight to their commanders in Peking.

Message sent:

You will not entertain aligning with China or Russia.  Or Else!

Full strength Cobra Gold. Surely there's enough cannabis grown here without having to import it.

22 hours ago, John Drake said:

You are 100 percent correct. Any insights the Thai military acquires from the US will go straight to their commanders in Peking.

Watch the skies - maybe the insights will be up, up and away in a beautiful balloon