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Commander U.S. 7th Fleet Hails Enduring Partnership with Royal Thai Navy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100419-07
4/19/2010

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand (NNS) -- Commander U.S. 7th Fleet engaged with various Thai media outlets during a media availability held aboard the U.S. Command Flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), while on a port visit to Laem Chabang, Thailand April 17.

As commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. John M. Bird, is responsible for naval operations in an Area of Responsibility that encompasses more than 48 million square miles - from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south, and from the International Date Line to the 68th meridian east, which runs down from the India-Pakistan border.

"First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to speak on behalf of my staff and all of the Sailors and Marines aboard ship and say that we are so excited to be here in Thailand for this port visit," Bird said. "This is a magnificent port and our ability to stop here is due to the continued friendship that we share with this great nation."

Blue Ridge is visiting Thailand to continue its Navy-to-Navy relationship through staff talks and other formal engagements, but also to enjoy the Thai warm Thai culture and history.

Bird emphasized the importance of the relationship between the Royal Thai Navy and the United States and how it played a vital role in their peace-keeping abilities.

"In this region, the United States has five solid allies, with Thailand being one of them," Bird said. "Our relationship with this nation dates back to 1833 with the Treaty of Amity and Commerce during the administration of President Andrew Jackson, making Thailand our longest-standing diplomatic ally country from the Pacific."

The U.S. 7th Fleet and the Royal Thai Navy conduct training operations throughout the calendar year. One of them, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, is a series of bilateral exercises held annually throughout Southeast Asia which began in 1995. The fast-moving, weeklong exercise covers a myriad of naval capabilities involving sea, air and amphibious assets.

Another key exercise co-sponsored by the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand, Cobra Gold, is an annual, multinational exercise. This year marked the 177th anniversary of U.S.-Thai relations. During each exercise, multinational forces collaborate in a full-scale, simulated amphibious assault. U.S. and Thai Sailors and Marines conduct multi-phase operations in unison, demonstrating amphibious interoperability.

"The partnering with the different navies gives me great pleasure to do while also being able to see the greater majority of Southeast Asia," Bird said.

According to Cmdr. Jason Temple, U.S. 7th Fleet scheduling officer, there are an average of 80 U.S. naval ships with approximately 30,000 U.S. troops that visit Thailand throughout the course of the year. Blue Ridge is underway as a part of a spring deployment in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.