The Cobra Gold 2026 exercise officially commenced, a joint combined training involving the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the United States Armed Forces, and allied militaries, mobilizing over 8,000 troops from 23 February to 6 March 2026 GMT+7.
At 09:00 on 24 February 2026 GMT+7, General Ugrit Boontanont, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, together with Sean K. O'Neill, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, and Lieutenant General Matthew McFarlane, commander of the U.S. Army's 1st Corps, co-presided over the opening ceremony of the Cobra Gold 2026 joint combined exercise at U-Taphao Airport, Naval Aviation Command, Naval Fleet, Ban Chang District, Rayong Province. The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassadors of Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and the Indonesian Minister Counselor to Thailand.
Cobra Gold is a multilateral joint military exercise conducted annually by the Royal Thai Armed Forces, the United States Indo-Pacific Command forces, and allied militaries. This year marks the 45th iteration, making it one of the longest-running exercises in Southeast Asia. The main participating countries number seven: Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. Additional participating countries include China, India, and Australia.
The rotating group of participating nations includes 10 countries in the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT): Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Ten observer countries also participate: Brunei, Germany, Jordan, Laos, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—totaling 30 countries involved. More than 8,000 personnel participate to strengthen relations among allied nations. The main exercise is scheduled from 23 February to 6 March 2026 GMT+7.
This year's exercise concept emphasizes full-spectrum joint combined operations, integrating Command Post Exercises (CPX) with Field Training Exercises (FTX) through a joint operations command center covering land, sea, and air domains. It also continuously focuses on space and cyber domains, incorporating geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) analysis and signals intelligence operations, along with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training. The Navy has enhanced its joint training capabilities, marking a significant step in developing national defense capacities and regional security cooperation.
A key mission of this exercise is demonstrating humanitarian aid and disaster relief training to enhance international forces' rapid and effective disaster response capabilities. The demonstration involved the K9 USAR THAILAND search and rescue dog unit and Mi-6, the royal pet dog of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, participating in search and rescue operations. This royal support reflects deep benevolence toward public assistance and the development of Thailand's rescue capabilities, illustrating strong collaboration among civil society, specialized agencies, and the military to prepare for disaster response for both domestic and international communities.
The Cobra Gold joint combined exercise strengthens the Royal Thai Armed Forces' and allied militaries' ability to conduct joint operations and respond effectively to all forms of threats, including regional disaster management. Moreover, this exercise plays a vital role in enhancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, helping maintain peace and stability for the foreseeable future.