#023/08 April 9, 2008

Cobra Gold 2008 Exercise Announced

Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and the United States today announced their participation in the Cobra Gold exercise to be held in Thailand from May 8-21, 2008.

Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint and combined multi-national exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand.  Cobra Gold 2008 (CG08) is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security.  This exercise marks the 27th anniversary of this regionally significant training event.

The U.S. Embassy Bangkok’s Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle said at the CG08 press conference that “multi-national responses to regional crises are likely to be the norm in the future; in order to better address tomorrow’s requirements, it is vital that friends train together.  There is no better exercise than Cobra Gold in keeping our militaries ready to respond to the real-world priorities of supporting peace, stability, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance.”
Training will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise, field training exercises, and humanitarian/civic assistance projects. 

In addition to the five main participating countries, the royal Thai government has invited several other nations to participate in various roles during the exercise.  The following countries have been invited: Australia, Brunei, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Mongolia. 

Media interested in covering this exercise should refer to information posted on the Cobra Gold website http://www.apan-info.net/cobragold or contact (Thailand) U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section Bussabonglahwan Pattaro at 02-205-4418 or the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Public Affairs Office, LTCOL. Jeffrey Blau at (808) 477-8308, or email jeffrey.blau@usmc.mil.