Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand and the US are co-hosting the 37th Cobra Gold military exercises, the Asia’s largest multinational drill, in Thailand fromFebruary 13-23, attracting over 11,000 personnel from 29 countries.
The annual event aimsto increase the coordination capacity of participating countries, including Singapore, Indonesia,Japan, China and Malaysia, to address maritimesecurity threats, natural disasters and epidemics.
The USscaled down its presence and military support for Thailand after the military coup inMay 2014, including for Cobra Gold.
But this year's exercise has drawn 6,800 USmilitary personnel, nearly double the number last year.
China, which joined the activity for the first time in2014, sent 44 soldiers to take part in humanitarian assistance anddisaster-relief drills.
Cobra Gold is the biggest annual multinationaldrill in Asia, which began as a bilateral drill between Thailand and the US. - VNA