Cobra Gold kicks off in Thailand

February 15, 2019, by navaltoday

The 38th iteration of multi-lateral exercise Cobra Gold kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Akathotsarot Camp, Phitsanulok Province, on February 12.

Sailors assigned to the USS Green Bay (LPD 20) prepare to conduct a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drill from a in the Gulf of Thailand. Photo: US Navy

Representatives of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and US Indo-Pacific Command were joined by the ambassadors of Japan and the Republic of Korea and representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore during the ceremony.

This year the exercise takes place from Feb. 12-22 and focuses on three major components; a military field training exercise (FTX), humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) to communities and a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise.

This is the 38th iteration of Cobra Gold.

The exercise enhances security cooperation and advanced interoperability to increase partner capacity in planning and executing complex and realistic multinational force and combined task force operations.

This year, exercise Cobra Gold has nine participating nations, including Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.

Approximately 4,500 US personnel are taking part, including the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and US Navy Seabees.