US-Asian pacific War games on May 8-21, main countries participating,
US, Australia, Bangladesh, Britain, Brunei, France, India, Italy,
Malaysia, Mongolia, Singa****e and the Philippines
The U.S. and Thailand will double the number of troops in their annual
war games in May, as Wa****ngton restores normal military relations
with the new elected government in Bangkok.
The Cobra Gold military exercises will take place May 8-21 in northern
Thailand, focusing on training for peacekeeping missions, said Thai
Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara.
"Personnel will be trained not only in peacekeeping but also other
types of assistance, which will help Thai forces prepare for
peacekeeping missions in Sudan," Songkitti told a press conference.
About 5,250 Thai personnel and 6,075 U.S. forces will join the
exercises, about twice as many as last year, when the exercises were
scaled down while Thailand was under a military-backed regime.
The U.S. had suspended $24 million in military aid to Thailand after
the military seized power in 2006. The aid was restored in February
after an elected government took office following polls late last
year.
In addition to the Thai and U.S. forces, Singa****e will send 158
personnel, Indonesia 81, and Japan 67. A total of 14 combat ****ps and
96 aircraft will be involved.
The U.S. Embassy's deputy chief of mission James Entwistle said the
exercises would help prepare for multinational responses to future
crises.
"There is no better exercise than Cobra Gold in keeping our militaries
ready to respond to the real-world priorities of sup****ting peace,
stability, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance," he said.
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