Cobra Gold Military Exercise: Two-week drills in Thailand conclude with 30 countries' participation

World
Europe

In Thailand, the Cobra Gold Military exercises have concluded -- complete with battle simulations and humanitarian exercises. Although participants from more than 30 countries took part, the main concentration of troops was the 6,800 US military personnel. CGTN's Tony Cheng reports.

In the rolling hills of Eastern Thailand, US ground troops and their allies advance. This is the final showpiece event of cobra gold, the largest military exercises in Asia. On the ground, snipers prepare their camouflage. Although this is an exercise, they are using live rounds and they're deadly serious.

GENERAL THANCHAIYAN SRISUWAN CHIEF OF THAI DEFENSE FORCES "There are 2,500 more US troops. There are also more South Koreans. We have China and other countries who all want to take part in the exercise."

That increased presence of US troops is a significant change from recent years. After the coup, relations with the Thai military had cooled. But the Trump administration appears to have forgiven its oldest ally in the region.

TONY CHENG CHANTABURI, EASTERN THAILAND "Since the 2014 military coup here in Thailand, the US has been a lot more guarded about the cobra gold exercises, but this year all of that seems to be forgotten and they've sent twice as many troops, more than 6,000, than they did last year."

The thaw in relations under Trump has been noticeable. While Obama shunned the Thai Generals, Trump has welcomed them with open arms. And others have followed suit like Boris Johnson, the British Foreign Minister who made no qualms about being seen with General Prayuth, despite his governments calls for a return to democracy.

The latest in military hardware on display the exercise too. Asia is a valuable marketplace for US military contractors, and the Trump administration sees arms sales as an important export. F16's shoot over the battlefield dropping live missiles as armored vehicles and tanks roll into action. But the US is adamant that it needs its allies to keep on the road to democracy.

PETER HEYMON DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION, US EMBASSY "The Policy's not changed. We still encourage our partners, the Thai government, to return to democracy as soon as possible because that's the way we're going to resume all of our military co-operation, including education and assisted arms sales."

The fight against ISIS has taught the US military a valuable lesson. Here in Mosul, the ground fighting was done by coalition partners, not US troops, but with vital US support, particularly in the air. So they can still engage, but without the risk of losing American lives. Back on the battlefield, foot soldiers were being choppered in, as paratroopers dropped from the sky.

As the noise of machine guns echoes through the hills, the message appeared to be for America and its military allies, that under Trump its business as usual. Tony Cheng, CGTN Chantaburi, Eastern Thailand.