Thailand and the United States, alongside 28 partner nations, began Southeast Asia’s largest and longest-running military exercise, the 45th Cobra Gold, on Tuesday (24 February) in Rayong province, Thailand.
The exercise involves more than 8,000 personnel and focuses on Combined Joint All-Domain Operations, integrating land, sea, air, space, and cyber capabilities through both command post and field training exercises.
Officials emphasised the importance of space and cyber as critical dimensions of 21st-century security.
“This exercise will emphasise military capabilities in joint multi-domain operations consisting of land, sea and air, and importantly space and cyber. It will also focus on integrating knowledge and training methods to align with the current global situation,” Thailand’s Chief of Defence Forces, Ukris Boontanondha, said during the opening ceremony.
He later officially declared Cobra Gold 2026 open, with troops standing at attention against a backdrop of national flags.
“Cobra Gold Exercises demonstrate our commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our partners and allies. You can interpret our presence here as our commitment to our strong partnership, especially with our Thai allies, and to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” Matthew McFarlane, commanding general of the U.S. Army I Corps, told reporters.
Cobra Gold 2026 was hailed as a clear demonstration of the enduring friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand.
Seven nations form the core participants of Cobra Gold 2026 are Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia.
Three additional countries - China, India and Australia - are also taking part in the exercises.
A further ten nations will rotate into activities under the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT), including Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Ten countries will participate as observers through the Combined Observer Liaison Team (COLT): Brunei, Germany, Jordan, Laos, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
This year marks the 45th iteration of the exercise, which organisers emphasised is not ceremonial but a practical, scenario-based training platform designed to deliver real operational outcomes and reinforce U.S.-Thai military cooperation.
The exercise is intended to enhance interoperability, provide joint training with partner nations to address shared security threats, and support defence-industry employment in both Thailand and the United States.
The 45th anniversary coincides with the United States’ upcoming 250th Independence anniversary, with commemorative activities planned throughout 2026 in the United States, Thailand, and globally to underscore cooperation with allies and partners.
Organisers said the United States will continue strengthening partnerships under President Donald Trump, while promoting innovation and ushering in what they described as a new era of diplomacy.
The military drill is set to run until 6 March.
Schools across Pakistan are being forced to close for a fortnight from next week with government departments down to a four-day week, accordin...
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their nati...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top ...
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leader...
Just under a year after being arrested and imprisoned at Silivri prison in the west of İstanbul, İmamoğlu appeared in good spirit...
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke by phone on Sunday as tensions between Washington and Westminster deepened over the conflict involving Iran. The call came less than a day after Trump criticised Britain’s response to U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment