Soldiers from Thailand and the United States completed Hanuman Guardian 2026, a total of 12 days of joint training in the Kingdom that included live-fire exercises designed to deepen cooperation between the two militaries in a time of increasing global tensions and conflict.

The U.S. Embassy in Thailand issued a statement saying that Hanuman Guardian “remains a cornerstone of bilateral defense cooperation.” It is second only to Cobra Gold, the annual multilateral military exercises cohosted by Thailand and the U.S.

As part of solidifying the partnership, the U.S. transferred 17 Stryker armored vehicles to the Royal Thai Army during the closing ceremony. The event was attended by senior leaders from both nations, including USARPAC Deputy Commander Lt. General Joel Vowell, Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Pana Claewplodtook, and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Sean K. O’Neill.

The 17th iteration of Hanuman Guardian featured a range of training activities, from live-fire exercises to cultural exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds between U.S. and Thai service members.

“The way we’ve been able to integrate with the Royal Thai Army is seamless,” said U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Nicholas Evans, 444th Engineer Company. “Hanuman Guardian is a great training opportunity. The Thais are good to work with; they are a good ally to have.”

The U.S. Pacific Command said that Hanuman Guardian allows American units to train in realistic environments while strengthening partnerships with allied forces.

“It's a huge opportunity for us,” said Lt. Col. Mike Wallace, battalion commander, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, highlighting how training in the Thai environment helps ensure soldiers remain ready to respond to complex missions alongside regional partners.

“It's all about generating readiness for us and really our Royal Thai counterparts,” Wallace said.

Thai troops also said they benefitted from training with their American allies. “The type of training we are doing today is interesting because it is different from the normal training,” said Royal Thai Army Sgt. Anan Chinnawong.