US soldiers participate in the Cobra Gold 2013 (Source: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailandand the US will launch the joint drill Cobra Gold 2018, the biggest annualmultilateral exercise in Asia-Pacific, from February 13 to 23 next year,announced the Royal Thai Armed Forces on October 19.
The exercise will include more than12,000 military personnel from 29 countries. The US will bring the largestnumber of soldiers with 5,800, followed by Thailand with 5,600 and the Republicof Korea (RoK) with 200. Meanwhile, China and India will send 44 personneleach.
The drill will be held at the army’sSurathampitak and Suranaree camps and the air force’s Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasimaprovince.
The seven nations participating inall activities of the exercise will be the US, Thailand, Singapore, the RoK,Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia while 10 other countries will attend asobservers. India and China will also join the exercise, but the role of thosetwo countries has yet to be revealed.
The US will mobilise six F-16CM, ten F-18Djets and four C-130 military transport aircraft. The US amphibious assault shipUSS Bonhomme Richard will also participate.-VNA
