Thailand and the United States on Thursday morning started their annual joint military exercise Cobra Gold in northeastern Thailand.

This year's exercise, one of the largest involving with the United States forces in the Pacific Command, was designed to improve participating troops combat readiness and combined-joint interoperability, said a statement issued by the US Embassy to Thailand.

It's also aimed to enhance security relationships and "demonstrate the US resolve to support the security and humanitarian interests of US friends and allies in the region," said the statement.

"Multi lateral exercises such as Cobra Gold are essential to help us train and work together to defeat those terrorists and eliminate their networks in Southeast Asia and around the world," the US ambassador Darryl N. Johnson was quoted as saying.

This year's exercise to be held from May 13-27 would focus on cooperation in conducting peace enforcement operation and humanitarian and disaster relief operation.

The United States and Thailand have taken the annual military exercise since 1980's and Singapore became a participant in 2000.

The Philippines and Mongolia also took part in this year's Cobra Gold, which was participated by approximately 13,500 US service members and 6,000 from the Thai forces.

Source: Xinhua