"As we all know from our experience with the tsunami, multinational responses to regional crises are likely to be the norm in the future," Alexander Arvizu, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy, told reporters.

"In order to better address tomorrow's disasters, future peacekeeping requirements, or contingencies, it is vital that our friends train together," he said.

Nearly 11,300 troops will take part in the exercises, dubbed the "Cobra Gold," the vast majority of them from Thailand and the United States.

Japan is sending 40 members of its so-called Self Defense Forces, but they will only join in computer simulations and observe in humanitarian projects.

Singapore is sending 96 troops, with another 15 from Indonesia.

The live-fire exercises, launched 25 years ago and originally limited to US and Thai troops, will include an anti-terror component for the fifth straight year.

Last year, the exercises focused on responses to natural disasters, after the December 2004 tsunami that killed 220,000 people in 12 countries.

This year's Cobra Gold exercises are much larger than last year's, when some 5,800 US, Thai, Japanese and Singaporean forces took part.

But they are still noticeably smaller than earlier years, when some 20,000 personnel were involved.

Nine other countries will observe this year's drills: Australia, China, France, Germany, Laos, Malaysia, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.

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