Thailand and the United States are preparing to conduct the annual Cobra Gold military exercise, reaffirming one of the longest-standing defence partnerships in the Asia-Pacific and underscoring Thailand’s central role in regional security cooperation.

Thai military officials confirmed that the upcoming iteration of Cobra Gold will involve joint training activities between Thai and US forces, alongside participation from multiple partner nations, focusing on combined operations, disaster response and humanitarian assistance.

The exercise is designed to strengthen interoperability, improve command coordination and enhance readiness across a range of scenarios, from conventional defence to crisis relief operations.

Cobra Gold has been hosted by Thailand for more than four decades and is widely regarded as the largest multinational military exercise in Southeast Asia, reflecting Bangkok’s consistent leadership in fostering security collaboration among allies and partners.

This year’s drill will include field training, command post exercises and civil-military projects, reinforcing the practical and people-centred dimensions of military cooperation.

Thai defence officials emphasised that the exercise supports regional stability and mutual trust while contributing to capacity-building across participating forces.

US military representatives highlighted Cobra Gold as a cornerstone of bilateral relations with Thailand, noting its importance in promoting shared standards, readiness and cooperation in a complex regional environment.

The forthcoming exercise signals continued commitment by both countries to constructive engagement and collective security, at a time when maintaining stability and preparedness in the Indo-Pacific remains a strategic priority.