On Tuesday, February 25, the joint exercises of the USA and Thailand Cobra Gold 2020 begin. These maneuvers are the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. They will be held throughout the kingdom. This was reported on the official exercise page on Facebook.

“Cobra Gold 2020 is the 39th time the largest annual joint international exercises in the region of the Indo-Pacific Command of the US Armed Forces. These exercises are an integral part of the US desire to strengthen its presence in the region as part of the concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific region." The exercises will be held from February 25 to March 6 in various areas throughout Thailand, ”the statement said.

According to the press service of the US Army in the Pacific, the purpose of the exercises is to "work out actions in the framework of cooperation to ensure security in the theater of operations."

“These maneuvers are an important element of military cooperation between the United States and the participating countries, which is aimed at maintaining combat readiness and expanding capabilities and capabilities, as well as promoting the interoperability of the armed forces of partner countries,” the press service of the US Ground Forces in the Pacific .

According to media reports, this year about 8 thousand military men from 29 countries will take part in the maneuvers, including the USA, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

As Michael Heath, US Chargé d'Affaires in Thailand, noted, 64 planes and 5.5 thousand troops will be involved from the American side. The diplomat’s statement is quoted by the Bangkok Post.

According to Heath, this year the program of exercises will include a richer practical component than usual: in particular, American F-35 fighters will be used for the first time.

Recall that Cobra Gold is held annually, and the Joint United Task Force of the USA and Thailand (Combined Joint Task Force, CJTF) participates in them.

  • US Navy Ships in the South China Sea
  • © US Navy

"Demonstration of power"

As political analyst Alexander Asafov said in an interview with RT, the United States "will intensify both the program and the composition of the participants in the exercises" (last year American troops involved 1,000 less maneuvers. - RT ). According to him, this can be regarded as "a form of political and military pressure, primarily on China and Russia," as well as a "demonstration of power."

“The Americans are well aware that in this way they are forcing their geopolitical competitors to spend efforts and resources on a certain mobilization of their military component. When such exercises take place, players in the region always regroup their forces and practice various methods of counteraction, ”the analyst said.

However, the expert claims that the participation of the F-35 in the maneuvers is also intended to “justify the increase in the US military budget”.

“Since training funds are allocated every year, the program should be more saturated. And the pressure on geopolitical competitors should grow exponentially, ”the analyst emphasized.

HSE professor Dmitry Evstafiev, in turn, drew attention to the fact that "from a geopolitical point of view, Thailand is the most neutral place for such large-scale maneuvers in the Asia-Pacific region."

“This is not a part of the region where conducting exercises in which could cause any direct confrontation with China,” the analyst explained.

  • US military equipment in Thailand
  • © Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP

Military capacity building

According to experts, the Cobra Gold 2020 exercises “fit into Washington’s overall strategy” to build up its military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Recall that at the end of November, the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson, announced the intensification of the activities of the US Navy in the South China Sea.

“The US Navy has intensified its activities in the South China Sea. In September and October, exercises were held there several times, and over the past week or two, maneuvers were conducted there twice to ensure freedom of navigation, ”the statement said.

In addition, the admiral said that Washington intends to increase the intensity of navigation in the waters of the South China Sea through cooperation with Singapore and the use of US military bases in Japan.

In turn, the head of the Pentagon, Mark Esper, called the Indo-Pacific region "a priority theater of operations" for the United States. This was reported in a statement by the defense department, which was published in November 2019 on the eve of the minister’s tour of Asian countries.

It was also noted there that “maintaining alliances and attracting new partners” in this region is one of the tasks of the US National Defense Strategy. In addition, the Pentagon recalled that their allies in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States consider primarily Thailand, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

The US Department of Defense also indicated that Moscow and Beijing are among the main sources of potential threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The focus of the US National Defense Strategy is on the return of rivalry between the great powers. The most serious threats come from China and Russia, ”the defense department’s website emphasized.

This is also stated in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, published by the Pentagon in June 2019. It notes that Moscow allegedly seeks to "undermine US leadership" in the region and the "rule-based" order as a whole. In addition, it is reported that during the year the United States conducts about 90 exercises in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • Pentagon
  • AFP

"Weakening the security system"

Alexander Asafov emphasizes that the United States "is strengthening its military component in the Asia-Pacific countries from year to year."

“Paradoxically, the head of the White House, Donald Trump, says that the foreign military presence of the United States needs to be reduced. However, the deeds that we see diverge from the words. And despite the very peace-loving rhetoric about the reduction, withdrawal of the contingent, about the cessation of financing of various foreign events, in practice we observe only their intensification, ”the expert said.

According to Asafov, "US militarization in the Asia-Pacific region leads to a weakening of the security system in this region."

“Any such event focuses on the attention of other players in the region who are preparing for a possible reflection of the threat from those who conduct the exercises. Thus, the security level is significantly reduced, ”the analyst explained.

Asafov also added that a “danger of human error, the consequences of which can be extremely serious,” may pose a separate danger.

  • US military in Thailand
  • © US Army

According to Yevstafyev, US intentions to expand cooperation with the countries of the region indicate that Washington continues to work on "the formation of an anti-Chinese coalition in Asia."

“This is a continuation of the line that they have been implementing for at least the last 10-12 years. The United States wants to create a military-political formation in Southeast Asia against the PRC, ”the analyst said.

However, Asafov points out that not all countries in the region seek to build military-political cooperation with the United States.

“The latest clear example is the Philippines, which decided to break the military agreement with the United States. The Philippine authorities simply realized that an alliance with the American side was not beneficial to them. Countries that do not behave obediently to Washington can also include Vietnam and Cambodia, ”the expert said.

Asafov also stressed that the United States "with all their desire, it will not be possible to move Russia and China from their firm positions in the region."

“Moscow and Beijing are the strongest players in the Asia-Pacific region. Of course, this causes a painful reaction from the American side, and they are trying to pull new allies to their side. However, total US control in this region is a thing of the past. Now regional players are showing much more independence, ”concluded the analyst.