According to AFP, 8 warships, 4 aircraft and 1,250 US soldiers and all 10 ASEAN countries participated in the 5-day exercise.
The US sent the 7th Axis Ship of the 7th Floury to participate in the exercise, most notably the USS Montgomery cruiser, which was launched in 2016 and is one of the most modern cruiser ships of the US Navy.
Previously, on the afternoon of September 1, Navy 18 - Navy Region 2 Command, Vietnam People's Army, left for the ASEAN-US maritime exercise and was expected to arrive at the gathering point in the area 55-60 nautical miles southwest of Ca Mau Cape on September 3.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exercise on September 2 at the Sattahip Naval Station, Thailand, Deputy Commander of the Pacific fleet Kenneth Whitesell said: As we conduct this exercise, we will increase trust and understand each others abilities. mutual understanding and trust are very important in the environment in which we live together.
The only way to build mutual trust is to fight together at sea, and in the environment we have. The India - Pacific region that we are looking forward to is a free and open environment, respecting international law and improving cooperation between our partners.
Navy officials expect the exercise to help strengthen maritime cooperation between the US and ASEAN, including exchanging information to help protect Southeast Asia from threats at sea.
Previously, at the regular press conference of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of August 22, answering a question about the information that ASEAN countries will have a drill with the US in the Gulf of Thailand, Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said: "According to information we know, the ASEAN - US maritime drill will take place from September 2-6."
"This is an activity conducted under an agreement between the ASEAN and US defense ministers in 2018. As a member of ASEAN, Vietnam will participate in this exercise, confirmed Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang.
