Thailand
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Partnerships
Thailand, Vietnam deepen defense ties to tackle shared security challenges
Felix Kim The sixth Thailand-Vietnam Defense Policy Dialogue, held in Bangkok in March 2025, highlighted a strategic relationship that has matured from Cold War-era border skirmishes to a cooperative partnership. The summit co-chairs — Gen. Sanitchanog Sangkachantra, Thailand’s permanent defense secretary, and Senior Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s deputy defense minister — emphasized the nations’ cooperation on regional and…
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Illicit Activity
Southeast Asian nations target security risk posed by scam centers
Peter Parson Southeast Asian nations are cracking down on scam centers, a global criminal enterprise committing hundreds of millions of dollars of fraud annually while abusing human rights and threatening regional security. Authorities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are disrupting the syndicates, arresting offenders and freeing captive workers. Recent efforts have targeted Myanmar’s southeastern Myawaddy region, where scam…
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Partnerships
Expanded multinational space domain component key part of Cobra Gold 2025
Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nunez/U.S. Air Force Exercise Cobra Gold, long a cornerstone of Thailand-United States military engagement in the Indo-Pacific, expanded into the space domain in 2025 with a multinational initiative to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional partnerships. “The goal is to establish a joint, combined, multinational component command specifically for space,” said Maj. Garry Stratiev, space operations planner for…
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Partnerships
Cobra Gold exercise enhances multilateralism across Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff More than 8,200 personnel from 30 countries participated in the 44th iteration of Cobra Gold, hosted by Thailand and the United States in Thailand. Key military contingents from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea participated in the exercise, which ran from February 25 to March 7, 2025, to strengthen relationships among Allies and Partners and bolster regional…
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Global Commons
Indonesia and Thailand expand defense ties, focus on space, cyber, joint exercises
Gusty Da Costa Indonesian and Thai Air Forces are enhancing their defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on space and cyber defense, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). During a recent visit to Thailand, Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Tonny Harjono met with Royal Thai Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul to…
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Partnerships
Indo-Pacific Endeavour links Australia with Allies and Partners for military exercises, training
FORUM Staff Legal workshops on security issues hosted in Sri Lanka recently kicked off Indo-Pacific Endeavour 24 (IPE), Australia’s five-month engagement involving 14 countries across Southeast Asia and the northeast Indian Ocean. Australian ships, aircraft and personnel deployed to individual countries for military exercises, training, workshops, and cultural and athletic activities. IPE, which runs from August to December 2024, covers…
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Features
Forging Connections and Capabilities: U.S. Military Leaders Reflect on Cobra Gold 2024
FORUM Staff Republic of Korea (ROK), Thai and United States military personnel participated in a multilateral amphibious assault exercise in Chonburi, Thailand, during Cobra Gold 2024. The training synchronized combined joint all-domain operations (CJADO), integrating command and control platforms, weapons and sensors across services and nations. More than 2,200 troops rehearsed near-simultaneous amphibious and air assaults to secure an airfield…
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Features
Cobra Gold 2024
FORUM Staff Cobra Gold 2024 took multilateral cooperation to new heights with 30 nations engaging in or observing key training activities ranging from land, maritime and air drills to space and cyber exercises, humanitarian efforts and cultural exchanges. “We have expanded the scope of military operations to address the full spectrum of threats across all domains,” Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee, defense…
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Northeast Asia
Allies, partners enhance all-domain readiness with military exercises across Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff More than 30 allied and partner militaries deployed personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, uncrewed vehicles and other assets across the Indo-Pacific in mid-2024. The multinational, near-simultaneous exercises Pitch Black, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and Valiant Shield stretched from Oceania and the Western Pacific to Northeast Asia. Tens of thousands of troops joined the all-domain training to build interoperability…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Amphibious, maritime force leaders collaborate for Free and Open Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff In its 10th iteration, the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) unveiled a new motto: Stronger Together. It is a reminder that regular collaboration among Allies and Partners is the foundation to respond to crises and perform at a high level to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. PALS 24 drew delegations from 24 nations to Seoul, South Korea,…
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