The Royal Thai Navy and the United States Navy will conduct the CARAT 2026 (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) joint exercise from 6 to 16 July 2026 across Sattahip in Chonburi, Rayong province, and the upper Gulf of Thailand. The exercise aims to enhance joint maritime operational readiness and strengthen regional maritime security cooperation against evolving threats.

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The opening ceremony will take place on 6 July 2026 at 10:00 at Laem Thian Pier, Sattahip, Chonburi. The Thai side will be chaired by Vice Admiral Songsarit Chatsanguan, Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, while Rear Admiral Kyle Gant, Deputy Commander of the US Seventh Fleet, will co-chair for the United States. The exercise is the largest bilateral naval drill between Thailand and the United States and has been conducted continuously since 1995.

The Royal Thai Navy has assigned Frigate Squadron 2, Royal Thai Fleet, as the main coordinating unit, led by Rear Admiral Anurak Promngam as exercise director. Thai assets include the frigates HTMS Saiburi and HTMS Bangpakong, a Type 4 helicopter, and a Blackjack unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance and target designation.

The United States will deploy USCGC Emlen Tunnell and USCGC Charles Moulthrope, along with a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle. US Marine personnel and a Seventh Fleet band will also participate in supporting roles.

The exercise is divided into three main phases. The first phase runs from 6 to 11 July and focuses on in-port training, including subject matter expert exchanges covering cyber operations, explosive ordnance disposal, maritime domain awareness, counter-unmanned aerial systems, boarding operations, diving, medical support, and mine countermeasures. Sports and community engagement activities are also included.

The second phase, from 12 to 14 July, will take place at sea and focus on tactical operations such as maritime awareness building, boarding and inspection of suspect vessels, tactical communications, target plotting, live weapons firing, naval manoeuvres, and search and rescue operations.

Thaitabloid reported that on 15 July, participating forces will hold a final evaluation meeting and closing ceremony, followed by the departure of US naval vessels. Officials say the exercise underscores continued defence cooperation and improves readiness for complex maritime security challenges in the region.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 6 July 2026

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The american Navy is useless, as the Iranians demonstrated. Thailand should be training with the Chinese. Stick to winners.

14 minutes ago, AdolfZ said:

The american Navy is useless, as the Iranians demonstrated. Thailand should be training with the Chinese. Stick to winners.

I think your mentor, Adolf Hilter also once said that the American Navy was useless, look where that got him.

4 hours ago, AdolfZ said:

The american Navy is useless, as the Iranians demonstrated. Thailand should be training with the Chinese. Stick to winners.

Useless? I don't see how you came to that conclusion.

The mission against Iran was mostly an Air Force operation because they were hitting underground nuclear sites. That's what the B-2 bombers and bunker buster bombs are for.

The Navy still played a role. A U.S. submarine fired Tomahawk missiles and the carrier groups were there to protect U.S. forces and keep Iran from trying anything bigger.

When exactly did Iran beat the U.S. Navy? They didn't sink a carrier, they didn't win a naval battle and they sure didn't destroy the U.S. fleet.

As for Thailand, I'd rather train with the country that has the strongest navy in the world than one that's still trying to catch up.

4 hours ago, AdolfZ said:

The american Navy is useless, as the Iranians demonstrated. Thailand should be training with the Chinese. Stick to winners.

The U.S. Navy is still ranked at the top of the list, above second-place China by a small margin. Thailand ranks in 21st place on a list of 38 countries with navies and above Israel in 31st place.

https://www.wdmmw.org/ranking.php

The drills will end with a "service halt" in Pattaya to facilitate discharging of "tension". At least in Thailand they don't watch that much news and see the humiliation America has got from a backward nation like Iran and their cheap home made drones and military speed boats in the Detroit.

10 hours ago, Screaming said:

I think your mentor, Adolf Hilter also once said that the American Navy was useless, look where that got him.

They were better with tanks and Patton!