(VOVworld) - The U.S. plans to hold its annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand again next year, despite concerns that the post-coup government is slipping in its timetable for restoring democracy.

US troops taking part in the Cobra Gold military exercise at Sattahip naval base in Northeast Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Senior State Department official Scot Marciel told a congressional hearing on Thursday that the exercise was important to the U.S. and the region, and the administration decided this week to go ahead with preparations for 2016. He said it would be scaled down again because of the political situation in Thailand. Cobra Gold is one of the world’s largest, multilateral military exercises. It has been held in Thailand since 1982, but was scaled down this year because of the May 2014 coup.