His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam received in audience Australia’s Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.
Accompanying Reynolds were Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Tiffany McDonald, Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligence Peter Tesch and Senior Advisor to the Minister for Defence Mikaela James.
Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat were also present.
Brunei Darussalam and Australia enjoy close and longstanding defence relation which were strengthened through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) relating to the participation of RBAF in military training programmes and exercises in Australia (1985); and relating to the Broader Cooperation in Defence Activities (1999).
The Bilateral Defence Relationship is also underpinned by extensive defence and military interactions such as exchange of visits, port visits, trainings and courses; and in cooperation with one another at a multilateral level through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus).
