BANGKOK — The United States and Thailand kicked off Cobra Gold, one of Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-running military exercises, on Tuesday in northeastern Thailand.
More than 8,000 troops from 30 countries are participating in the annual drills, which focus on a range of modern warfare tactics, including command and control operations, humanitarian assistance, cyber defense, space operations, and counter-drone strategies, military officials said.
Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, emphasized the growing cooperation among participating nations.
“We see our increased ability to work together for our collective security and sovereignty,” he said. “Every Cobra Gold exercise helps us better understand each other’s capabilities and strengthens our partnerships.”
The scale of the drills has expanded in recent years, with seven new participant nations joining this year and two others taking part in a limited capacity, Clark added.
Maj. Gen. Michelle A. Schmidt, commander of the U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division, highlighted the importance of adapting the exercises to evolving threats, particularly in technology-driven warfare.
“Every year, we assess global developments and emerging technologies,” she said. “That’s why we’ve incorporated cyber operations, space capabilities, and counter-drone strategies—especially against unmanned aerial systems, which are becoming increasingly critical in modern warfare.”
The 44th iteration of Cobra Gold will run until March 7.
