DTRA recently conducted a successful Executive Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Seminar in Thailand. Senior-level participants hailed from across the Thailand interagency and included civilian and military units tasked with CWMD, natural disaster, terrorism, emergency, and first responder duties.  This event was hosted in Bangkok, Thailand at the Royal Thai Armed Forces’ Counter Terrorism Operations Center headquarters. DTRA has been working to build Thailand’s CWMD capabilities over the last decade.  However, due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions, this was DTRA’s first touchpoint with their Thailand CWMD partners since 2019. 

This event is critically important as Thailand is a longstanding treaty ally of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, and a country that shares U.S. goals and values on regional security. This strong relationship was demonstrated as the Commanding General of the Counter Terrorism Center personally welcomed participants to the headquarters. The Thai leadership also shared a success story of the CBRN capabilities DTRA has provided to Thailand. During the first year of Thailand’s COVID-19 pandemic response they were able to use the CBRN response training and Personal Protective Equipment that DTRA previously provided for their emergency response. They extended their deep gratitude for the donated equipment, noting its effectiveness overcoming the challenges of the pandemic.

The purpose of the three-day seminar was for interagency participants to gain a key understanding of executive-level planning for CWMD, incident command, CBRN response, and successfully assess the current ability of their respective organizations to effectively manage and coordinate a whole-of-government response to a crisis. Finally, the group tackled the efficacy of current national plans, policy, and doctrine, using interagency cooperation and dialogue. Overall, the event was a great success and was well received by Thai leadership. DTRA expanded their Thai partners CWMD knowledge, and emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation to achieve executive-level planning for CWMD, incident command, and CBRN response.