US and 10 ASEAN navies kick off joint military exercises

US and 10 ASEAN navies kick off joint military exercises

The United States of America has joined with 10 Southeast Asian countries as the joint military exercises kicked off in Southeast Asia. More than 1000 personnel participated in the maritime drill, a part of joint military exercises, on Monday.

It is the first ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) which will last for five days. The exercise starts on September 2 at the Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand and it will end in Singapore. The US has increased its engagement in the region. The exercises come at a time when the tension between China and Southeast Asian countries have risen over the South China Sea. The US Embassy in Bangkok released a statement in which it said, “The exercises will stretch into international waters in Southeast Asia”.

The exercises will be done in the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea. The US Navy and Royal Thai Navy lead the exercises. Rear Admiral Joey Tynch, the US Navy officer for the security cooperation in Southeast Asia, said, “AUMX builds greater maritime security on the strength of ASEAN.” He added that the US Navy believes in free and open Indo-Pacific.

USS Montgomery, the littoral combat ship of the US Navy, USS Wayne E. Meyer, the guided-missile destroyer, three MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters, and a P-8 Poseidon aircraft are participating in the drills as the US assets. The 10 members of ASEAN will take part in the AUMX. The drills include the boarding of target vessels for stimulating seizures.

Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian leader, said on Monday that the drills were a waste of money. He added that China had a right to feel threatened by exercises in the region. He called the drills provocative. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, requested the Southeast Asian countries to push back against Chinese compulsion in the South China Sea. It is the first time when the US Navy participated in a drill joined by the Southeast Asian nations. The drills will last for five days.

Managing editor of the Chicago Morning Star

Related Posts
AT&T to Pay $177M Over Massive Customer Data Breaches
AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million to settle two class-action lawsuits stemming from major
Injuries Push Astros to Debut More Minor Leaguers
With a growing list of injuries depleting their roster, the Houston Astros continue to turn
The new Alex Saab is a U.S. person: Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales
Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales, a Venezuelan oil trader with deep ties to the Maduro regime,
TikTok Readies U.S. App Before ByteDance Deadline
TikTok is preparing to launch a separate version of its app specifically for U.S. users,
Flash Floods Slam Northeast as Storms Trigger Emergencies
Flash flooding swept across parts of the Northeast on Monday evening, as a slow-moving weather
Grand Canyon Lodge Destroyed in Wildfire
An aggressive wildfire at Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim has destroyed the historic Grand
Floodwaters Rise Again Across Central Texas
Heavy Rain Triggers Second Major Flood Emergency in Central Texas A fresh round of torrential
TSA Ends Shoe Removal Rule at U.S. Airports
For the first time in nearly two decades, air travelers in the United States can
AI Deepfake Voicemails Target High-Level Officials
In June, an advanced impersonation campaign used artificial intelligence to target senior U.S. and international
Nvidia Becomes World’s Most Valuable Public Company
Nvidia Corp. has officially become the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, reaching
AT&T to Pay $177M Over Massive Customer Data Breaches
AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million to settle two class-action lawsuits stemming from major
Injuries Push Astros to Debut More Minor Leaguers
With a growing list of injuries depleting their roster, the Houston Astros continue to turn
The new Alex Saab is a U.S. person: Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales
Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales, a Venezuelan oil trader with deep ties to the Maduro regime,
TikTok Readies U.S. App Before ByteDance Deadline
TikTok is preparing to launch a separate version of its app specifically for U.S. users,
Flash Floods Slam Northeast as Storms Trigger Emergencies
Flash flooding swept across parts of the Northeast on Monday evening, as a slow-moving weather
Grand Canyon Lodge Destroyed in Wildfire
An aggressive wildfire at Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim has destroyed the historic Grand
Floodwaters Rise Again Across Central Texas
Heavy Rain Triggers Second Major Flood Emergency in Central Texas A fresh round of torrential
TSA Ends Shoe Removal Rule at U.S. Airports
For the first time in nearly two decades, air travelers in the United States can