Biggest US Force in Years Joins Thai Military Exercise

TEHRAN (defapress)- The biggest US force in years joined an annual military exercise in Thailand on Tuesday despite controversy over the Thai junta's invitation to neighbouring Myanmar's army, which has been accused of ethnic cleansing.

News ID: 68677

Date: 14 February 2018 - 21:38

The United States scaled back attendance at Cobra Gold, Asia's largest multilateral military exercise, after a 2014 coup in Thailand. But relations between the junta and Washington have improved under US President Donald Trump, The Star reported.

The presence of the 6,800 US personnel - nearly double last year's number - was a demonstration of America's continuing muscle in a region where China is growing ever more powerful.

The Cobra Gold military exercise has been held for more than three decades. This year's Cobra Gold will be attended by some 11,075 personnel from 29 countries.

"This exercise is the largest multilateral exercise in the Indo-Pacific region. It speaks to the commitment of the US in the region," Steve Castonguay, a Spokesman for the US Embassy in Bangkok, told Reuters.

This year's exercise has been marked by Thailand's controversial invitation to Myanmar, where 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled military action that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Castonguay confirmed an army major from Myanmar was attending the opening ceremony but that Myanmar would not participate in any military drills.

The United States has pushed for the restoration of democracy in Thailand, its oldest regional ally.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had promised an election would take place in November this year, but the junta last month said it could be delayed until February 2019 - which would be the latest of several postponements.