Cobra Gold Military Exercises Headquarter In Chiang Mai

Cobra Gold military exercises headquarter in Chiang Mai

U.S. Ambassador co-chairs opening ceremony

U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Admiral Yuttana Phagpolngam, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces join hands with partner nations in the 32nd annual Cobra Gold exercises held in Thailand from February 11-21, 2013.

Nopniwat Krailerg

U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney visited Chiang Mai on February 11, 2013 to join Admiral Yuttana Phagpolngam, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces in chairing the opening ceremony of the Cobra Gold joint exercises at Le Meridien Hotel in Chiang Mai.
Cobra Gold 13 (2013) is an annual military exercise with the joint forces of the Thai military and the United States Army that has been held for 32 years. 7 main countries participate; USA, Thailand, South Korean, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. A further ten countries take part as observers including Brunei, China, Laos, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates. Joint military exercises are held in Lopburi, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Chonburi and Chanthaburi while the exercises are headquartered in Chiang Mai.
The exercise, which ended February21, will improve the capability to plan and conduct combined-joint operations and will provide an opportunity for partner nations to build relationships and improve interoperability across the range of military operations. CG 13 is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective response to regional crises by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.
A total of 12,593 soldiers are taking part in the exercises, nearly 9,000 from the U.S., 42 from Singapore, 69 from Indonesia, 72 from South Korea, 74 form Japan, 65 from Malaysia and over 3,200 from Thailand.
The exercise includes humanitarian and civic assistance projects, a staff exercise and field training exercises. Joint and multinational training is vital to maintaining the readiness and interoperability of all participating military forces.
When you train together, talk together, plan together … I know that if a disaster strikes my country or a neighboring country you will all be there,” said Kristie A. Kenney, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand. “You’ll be there at once because whether it’s flooding in Thailand, a typhoon in the Philippines or a tsunami in Indonesia, you know because you’ve worked together how to respond immediately and effectively to save lives. As a civilian, I know that makes us safer, more productive and more prosperous.”

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