© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: US Admiral John C. Aquilino speaks during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um
By Kwang Jiraporn Kuhakan
RAYONG, Thailand (Reuters) – Thailand and the United States began military exercises involving more than 7,000 troops and forces from 30 countries on Tuesday, and the annual drills include a component focused on space exercises for the first time.
“Cobra Gold”, launched in 1982, is one of the world’s oldest multilateral military exercises and the largest in Southeast Asia, serving as a key platform for Washington to strengthen alliances in Asia at a time of growing competition with China.
After drills were scaled back during the pandemic, nearly 6,000 US troops will take part this year, said Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, the highest number in a decade.
Speaking to reporters, Aquilino said: “We will carry out integrated operations on land, sea, air and cyberspace with our partners.”
The exercises, which will last until March 10, demonstrate how responding together would help “preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, so that all nations can maintain peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
Tensions have risen in the US-China region over Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and Taiwan’s self-rule.
This year, the drills will include a space exercise for the first time, with a focus on understanding the impact of airborne phenomena like solar storms on military operations, communications and satellites, a US embassy statement said. .
Military and civilian space agencies from Thailand, the United States and Japan will participate, he said.
Cobra Gold involves 7,394 people in total this year from 30 countries, with the full seven participants also including Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia.
China, India and Australia are taking part in the humanitarian exercises.