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USFK commander hails 'capability showcase' after observing Cobra Gold drills in Thailand

Published: 04 Mar. 2026, 17:52

Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, leaves a gathering with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby in Seoul on Jan. 26. [YONHAP]

The commander of the U.S. military stationed in Korea, Gen. Xavier Brunson, traveled to Thailand this week to observe the multinational Cobra Gold drills, which Seoul's Navy and Marine Corps troops have also taken part in, according to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Wednesday.

Brunson's visit to the drills, one of the largest multinational military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, "underscored USFK's sustained focus on combined readiness and the deepening of alliance relationships that form the foundation of regional stability," the USFK said in a statement.

The visit also "showcases how the specialized capabilities honed on the Korean Peninsula integrate into a broader, multinational framework of stability," it said.

"Cobra Gold is a powerful demonstration of what happens when like-minded nations commit to a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific," Brunson was quoted as saying in the statement. "The level of synchronization I observed across the combined joint all-domain environment is exactly what makes our deterrence credible. Our collective ability to operate seamlessly across borders and domains today ensures we can meet any challenge to regional stability tomorrow."

A key highlight of this year's iteration was the robust participation of U.S. Space Forces Korea, the statement said.

For this year's drills, Korea has deployed the 4,900-ton ROKS Nojeokbong landing ship, alongside five KAAV amphibious assault vehicles, two K-55A1 self-propelled howitzers and one K-30W Chunho wheeled antiaircraft gun.

Launched in 1982, the Cobra Gold exercise focuses on training multinational forces for a range of military and humanitarian procedures.

Yonhap