BANGKOK, Thailand – The Commander of the United States First Corps has commended the Royal Thai Army (RTA) for its strict adherence to international rules of engagement regarding border security, reaffirming the enduring military alliance between the two nations.
Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Claewplodtook welcomed Lieutenant General Matthew McFarlane, Commanding General of the U.S. I Corps, to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. Their meeting focused on strengthening bilateral military cooperation through joint exercises such as Cobra Gold and Hanuman Guardian, as well as advancing the RTA’s Stryker armored vehicle program.
General Pana thanked the U.S. military for participating in Exercise Cobra Gold, noting it demonstrates a strong security partnership and a shared commitment to developing personnel capabilities in multi-domain operations, especially in cyber and space warfare. He also highlighted the successful conclusion of Exercise Hanuman Guardian, which enhanced counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities.
The Royal Thai Army thanked the United States for providing 17 additional Stryker armored vehicles under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. The official handover ceremony will occur at the conclusion of Exercise Hanuman Guardian 2026. The U.S. will also deploy a Stryker Brigade Combat Team to deliver ongoing technical training in maintenance and network-centric warfare tactics.
General Pana reaffirmed the RTA’s commitment to sovereignty and the international principle of self-defense. He emphasized Thailand’s pursuit of peaceful resolutions and thanked the U.S. for its ongoing support. Lieutenant General McFarlane commended the RTA’s professionalism and expressed pride in the enduring Thai-U.S. alliance, which remains central to regional trust and stability. (NNT)
