Cobra Gold, the largest and the longest-running multinational military exercise in mainland Asia, has been hosted in Thailand annually since 1982, reports the Bangkok Post. This year’s exercise, held from Feb 24 to Friday, is co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command, focusing on modern warfare challenges and technological advances, as well as fostering multinational cooperation in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
The annual exercise integrates field training events, humanitarian assistance activities and disaster response scenarios to enhance operational familiarity and strengthen regional partnerships.
Forces from Thailand, the US, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea are the core participants of the 45th iteration of the Cobra Gold this year.
China, India and Australia will join in selected activities.
Rotational participation includes 10 countries in the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team, namely Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand and the Philippines, to support operational planning and coordination.
Another 10 nations - Brunei, Germany, Jordan, Laos, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, East Timor and Vietnam - will join the Combined Observer Liaison Team (COLT).
Thailand is hosting the exercise this year for the first time since clashes broke out with neighbouring Cambodia in mid-2025. Cambodia has taken part as an observer in Cobra Gold in recent years.
Amid ongoing border tensions, analysts say trust between Thailand and Cambodia remains fragile.
Chaiwat Khamchoo, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science, said Cambodia would likely feel discomfort and distrust if it were to join Cobra Gold this year.
This is because the border issues with Thailand remain unresolved and have yet to reach any conclusion, he said.
It is Cambodia’s right to decide not to join the exercise this year if they view that the participation may not be beneficial to them, said Mr Chaiwat.
"Cambodia was present during the last Cobra Gold in Thailand," said the academic.
"But that was when the armed border conflict had not begun. Now the situation has changed."
"Despite the ceasefire agreement, exchanges of fire still occur along the border, and as long as the dispute remains unresolved, Cambodia will maintain a sense of discomfort and distrust in joining a military exercise in Thailand," he said.
On the other hand, he also does not see Thailand joining if Cambodia were to host a military exercise. "There is discomfort on both sides between Thailand and Cambodia."
While the US has been among the peace brokers in the Thailand- Cambodia conflict, Cobra Gold "may not directly be a platform to build trust among the participating countries" even though the event can serve to build friendships among troops of different nations.
Mr Chaiwat said countries tend to use the opportunity to safeguard their own security interests.
"Nevertheless, Cambodia’s absence this year may not help resolve tensions, but at least it does not worsen them," he added.
War games or politics?
Meanwhile, international relations scholar Panitan Wattanayagorn said an unofficial source indicated Thailand did not extend an invitation to Cambodia to join this year’s exercise.
"Even if Thailand had invited them, they would likely not have joined. The ceasefire has not been fully implemented, and provocations along the border continue," he said.
"On the other hand, if the US could successfully bring both Thailand and Cambodia into Cobra Gold, it would gain credit for strengthening alliances to counter China’s influence in the region," he said.
Cobra Gold 2026 brings together about 8,000 service members from 30 nations for military training and humanitarian civic assistance projects across Thailand.
Given its scale and significance, Mr Panitan said China is closely watching the exercise, while Thailand should emphasise humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and cybercrime cooperation as part of its balancing strategy.
"The key issue is how Thailand can use Cobra Gold to secure strategic benefits and strengthen ties with key allies such as the US, Singapore and Japan, while avoiding actions that could be perceived as a threat to China.
"Therefore, Thailand must carefully balance and manage its position. If handled well, Thailand can serve as a hub for major military exercises in the region," he said.