The Cobra Gold 2026 has begun in Thailand, bringing together more than 10,000 troops from 30 countries for joint amphibious operations and humanitarian disaster relief drills coordinated by the Thai military and the US Indo-Pacific Command. The exercise, one of the largest multilateral military trainings in mainland Southeast Asia, is designed to reinforce regional defense cooperation while also incorporating cultural exchange and soft-power programming. Local provinces including Chonburi and Rayong are expected to see a near-term boost in tourism and hospitality activity from the influx of foreign personnel.