APD | Drills between US and Asean countries commence

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

The first ever maritime exercises between the US and ASEAN countries started on Monday and will last for the next five days.

From the US and the 10 Southeast Asian countries, eight warships, four aircraft and more than 1000 personnel will be participating in the first ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX), which will also extend into the South China Sea.

The five-day exercises will start in the Sattahip Naval Base in Thailand and end in Singapore.

According to a statement issued by the US embassy in Bangkok, the navies will be led together by the US and Royal Thai navies and will extend into “international waters in Southeast Asia, including the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea.”

The drills and exercises will particularly focus on practicing search and seizure operations in the sea and are expected to strengthen US-ASEAN ties.

Moreover, experts suggest that the joint exercises will also lead to drawing the navies of the US and ASEAN countries closer and emphasize their belief in free and open- Indo-Pacific.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)