U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific wen go host one delegation from da Royal Thai Marine Corps on top Oahu dis past Monday an’ Tuesday. Dis was da first Marine-to-Marine Future Engagement Planning meetings between da United States an’ Thailand. ??
Da meeting wen happen as da United States an’ China stay try outdo each oddah for pull in Southeast Asia. An’ da Marine Corps try make demself big kine player in U.S. strategy in da region. Lt. Gen. William Jurney, da big boss Marine in da Pacific, wen say dat da goal stay mo’ than jus’ training an’ doing stuff togedah; we gotta be ready fo’ all kine different kine situations. ??
Thailand stay da United States’ oldest treaty ally in Asia an’ dis year marks da 190th anniversary of diplomatic ties between da two countries. ?????
Back in March, da military guys from both countries wen team up for da 42nd annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand — da biggest kine exercise we seen in recent years. But had to make ’em small kine cause of COVID-19 worries. In 2022, da United States wen send less than 1,300 troops to Cobra Gold, which had a total of less than 3,500 participants. But dis year, had more than 7,000 service members from 30 countries, including da United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, India an’ Australia. Even had small kine Chinese troops for da humanitarian aid part. ????????
Da Marine Corps now stay stepping up meetings with countries in da Pacific an’ Asia as dem try reorganize their forces an’ change up their priorities aftah years of long kine battles in da Middle East. Da big kahunas see Marines going back to their naval roots an’ do da kine “island hopping” missions dey did during World War II, but with one 21st-century twist. ???️
Da service leaders see small kine groups of Marines operating all spread out across islands an’ da ocean an’ setting up missile batteries for take out enemy ships, while using drones an’ other technologies for support their operations. Dey also say dey hope dat one mo’ nimble and mobile Marine Corps can respond faster to humanitarian crises in da region as climate change an’ rising seas make natural disasters mo’ common. ???️?
As part of da new strategy, da Marine Corps leaders stay looking for make alliances and partnerships with countries in da region so dat their Marines can work with foreign troops, an’ also use their bases. ??
Da makeover of da Marine Corps stay mostly for operations in da Western Pacific, where China has been having plenty problems with neighboring countries over land and navigation rights in da South China Sea, one super important waterway where more than one third of all international trade moves through. Beijing stay claim da whole sea as their own territory an’ even built bases on islands and reefs for assert their claims. ???️??
China stay put plenty money in Southeast Asia as part of their Belt and Road Initiative — sometimes called da “new Silk Road” — with some Chinese officials and business peeps get big kine dreams for Thailand in particular. Dey stay pushing hard for da construction of da Kra Canal — maybe da biggest canal in southeast Asia — which going be built with Chinese money and give Chinese merchant and military vessels one fast lane to da Indian Ocean. ????⛴️
China, along with plenty other countries in Asia and da Pacific, imports oil from Africa and da Middle East dat most times gotta go through da Strait of Malacca. Da canal would let tankers go straight through Thailand between da Indian and Pacific oceans. But, some smart guys stay worried dat Beijing would use da canal for control maritime movements and trade in da region. In 2018, one senior Indian navy official told Indian English-language newspaper the Business Standard dat while da Kra Canal could help India and da region by taking pressure off da overcrowded Malacca Straits, get plenty reason fo’ worry about what Chinese involvement in dis project going mean for da balance of power in da Indian Ocean. ??⚖️
In January 2020, da Thai government made one parliamentary committee for study if can make da canal project. Da committee wen give their report to da Thai House for debate last year, where lawmakers wen finally decide no can. But, some analysts say Chinese officials stay try use their connections with members of da Thai military and business community for keep da proposed project alive. ??????
As COVID-19 restrictions wind down around da world, da U.S. military stay stepping up face-to-face talks with its regional counterparts for strengthen their own personal ties. In da Marine Corps news release, officials said dey plan for da meeting at Camp Smith to become one yearly ting. Jurney said “we like work togedah in da bonds of friendship to strengthen our readiness.” ???????
So, as da story unfolds, we see da U.S. Marine Corps, da Royal Thai Marine Corps, and oddah regional countries all stay ready for face da challenges ahead. Stay tuned fo’ da next chapter in dis ongoing saga. ?????
NOW IN ENGLISH
????? “Marine Big Shots Engage with Thai Delegates at Camp Smith
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific recently hosted a delegation from the Royal Thai Marine Corps in Oahu this past Monday and Tuesday. This was the inaugural Marine-to-Marine Future Engagement Planning meeting between the United States and Thailand. ??
The meeting took place as the United States and China continue to vie for influence in Southeast Asia, with the Marine Corps striving to establish themselves as a major player in U.S. strategy in the region. Lt. Gen. William Jurney, the top-ranking Marine in the Pacific, stated that the goal extends beyond simply training and coordinating activities together; we must be prepared for a multitude of potential scenarios. ??
Thailand is the United States’ oldest treaty ally in Asia, and this year marks the 190th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. ?????
In March, military forces from both countries teamed up for the 42nd annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand — the largest-scale exercise in recent years. However, due to concerns about COVID-19, the exercise had to be scaled down. In 2022, the United States sent fewer than 1,300 troops to Cobra Gold, which had a total of fewer than 3,500 participants. But this year, it included more than 7,000 service members from 30 countries, including the United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, India, and Australia. A small contingent of Chinese troops also participated in the humanitarian aid portion. ????????
The Marine Corps is currently increasing meetings with countries in the Pacific and Asia as they aim to reorganize their forces and shift their priorities following years of protracted conflict in the Middle East. The top brass envisions Marines returning to their naval roots and carrying out “island hopping” missions as they did during World War II, but with a 21st-century twist. ???️
Service leaders envision small groups of Marines operating spread out across islands and the ocean, setting up missile batteries to neutralize enemy ships, while using drones and other technologies to support their operations. They also express hope that a more agile and mobile Marine Corps can respond more quickly to humanitarian crises in the region as climate change and rising seas increase the frequency of natural disasters. ???️?
As part of their new strategy, Marine Corps leaders are seeking to strengthen alliances and partnerships with regional countries so that their Marines can collaborate with foreign troops and gain access to their bases. ??
The Marine Corps’ transformation is largely tailored for operations in the Western Pacific, where China has been entangled in a series of disputes with neighboring countries over territorial and navigation rights in the South China Sea, a vital waterway through which more than a third of all international trade passes. Beijing claims the entire sea as its exclusive territory and has built bases on disputed islands and reefs to assert its claims. ???️??
China is heavily investing in Southeast Asia as part of its Belt and Road Initiative — sometimes referred to as the “new Silk Road” — with some Chinese officials and business leaders having ambitious plans for Thailand in particular. They are pushing hard for the construction of the Kra Canal — potentially the largest canal in southeast Asia — which will be funded by Chinese money and provide Chinese merchant and military vessels a shortcut to the Indian Ocean. ????⛴️
China, along with many other countries in Asia and the Pacific, imports oil from Africa and the Middle East, which frequently passes through the Strait of Malacca. The proposed canal would allow tankers to traverse directly through Thailand, connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans. However, some analysts worry that Beijing would utilize the canal to exert control over maritime movements and regional trade. In 2018, a high-ranking Indian navy official informed the Indian English-language newspaper, the Business Standard, that while the Kra Canal could potentially alleviate pressure on the congested Malacca Straits and benefit India and the region, there’s ample reason to be apprehensive about what Chinese involvement in the project might mean for the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. ??⚖️
In January 2020, the Thai government established a parliamentary committee to study the feasibility of the canal project. The committee delivered its report to the Thai House for debate last year, where lawmakers ultimately deemed the project infeasible. However, some analysts suggest that Chinese officials continue to leverage connections with members of the Thai military establishment and business community in an attempt to keep the proposed project alive. ??????
As COVID-19 restrictions ease globally, the U.S. military is ramping up in-person dialogues with its regional counterparts with the goal of strengthening their own personal ties. In the Marine Corps news release, officials stated that they plan for the meeting at Camp Smith to become an annual event. Jurney stated, “we want to work together in the bonds of friendship to enhance our readiness.” ???????
As the narrative unfolds, we observe the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Marine Corps, and other regional countries all standing prepared to face the challenges ahead. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this ongoing saga. ?????
