READOUT: Pacific Fleet commander’s travel to Thailand, Feb. 19-21, 2025

28 February 2025

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to the Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 19-21, 2025, to reinforce the enduring U.S.-Thailand alliance.

Download

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee, commander, Royal Thai Armed Forces, at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 20, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy)

Koehler met with senior officials from the Thai Armed Forces and U.S. Embassy to discuss security challenges, and the importance of maritime security and interoperability between naval forces in the Indo-Pacific for maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

In Bangkok, Koehler met with:

Gen. Songwit Noonpackdee - Chief of the Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces
Adm. Jirapol Wongwit - Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Navy
Robert F. Godec - U.S. Ambassador to Thailand

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, commander, Royal Thai Navy, right, at the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, poses for a photo with Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, commander, Royal Thai Navy, right, in front of the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, and Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, commander, Royal Thai Navy, center right, conduct a pass-in-review of Royal Thai Navy sailors at the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, and Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, commander, Royal Thai Navy, center left, conduct a pass-in-review of Royal Thai Navy sailors at the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, greets senior naval leadership at the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, Adm. Jirapol Wongwit, commander, Royal Thai Navy, center right, and their spouses pose for a photo during a dinner at the Royal Thai Navy Club in Bangkok, Feb. 19, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

The leaders discussed the friendship and close cooperation of the two navies and the endurance of the U.S.-Thai Alliance, now marking 192 years.

In Chonburi, Koehler met with Vice Adm. Nuttapol Diewvanich, Fleet Commander, Royal Thai Navy, onboard HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911) and Vice Adm. Apichart Sappresert, commander, Royal Thai Marine Corps, at their headquarters to discuss ways to advance interoperability and coordination to strengthen deterrence to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Vice Adm. Nuttapol Diewvanich, fleet commander, Royal Thai Navy, onboard the Royal Thai Navy aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911) in Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 20, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, signs the guest book onboard the Royal Thai Navy aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911) in Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 20, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

Royal Thai Navy sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (CVH 911) stand in formation during Adm. Steve Koehler’s, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Vice Adm. Nuttapol Diewvanich’s, fleet commander, Royal Thai Navy, visit to the ship in Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 20, 2025. The formation celebrates the 101st birthday of the Royal Thai Navy. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Thai Navy)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, meets with Vice Adm. Apichart Sappresert, commander, Royal Thai Marine Corps, center right, at the Royal Thai Marine Corps Headquarters in Chonburi, Thailand, Feb. 20, 2025. Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring 192-year-old U.S.-Thailand alliance, which remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

The two navies regularly participate in bilateral and multilateral exercises, including Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) and Cobra Gold to promote regional peace and security and build on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations. Thailand recently hosted USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), and USS Omaha (LCS 12) for port visits.

Koehler traveled to Thailand to reinforce the enduring U.S.-Thailand alliance, which is founded on 192 years of friendship, and remains steadfast in strengthening peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.