| Siti Hajar |
THE rising threats in the region, especially terrorism, have called for more cooperation among countries in protecting the maritime routes.
“The region has witnessed the spread of influence of some radical elements,” said Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, during the opening ceremony yesterday for the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise that is set to conclude on May 10 in Singapore.
The combined 3,000 personnel along with military assets taking part in the exercise are capable of contributing to ensure that the region’s maritime routes are safe for the use of the global community, he said.
The rise of globalisation and rapid development of technology continue to test the capabilities of the countries, he said.
“The pressures we face today are greater than ever before as security challenges have proved to be more complex and very often cross between borders with relative ease and speed,” he said, adding that resolving challenges also carries the component of cooperation.
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, during the opening ceremony of Asean Defence Ministers’ Meet-ing Plus (ADMM-Plus) Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah in a conversation
Military personnel during the tasking. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
Through clear and open communication, he said, “we are able to build trust, enable a common ground to work together and forge effective partnerships and bonds of cooperation between one another,” he added.
The exercise that brings together the militaries of 18 countries is expected to reduce tensions, enhance trust and build deeper cooperation.
The Commander of the RBAF said, “God willing, this noble undertaking may become a model for others to emulate in our pursuit towards sustainable peace and security for the benefit of mankind globally.”
The exercise, which will see the simulation of maritime security and counter-terrorism scenarios at sea “is a manifestation of our solidarity to make the Southeast Asia region and beyond a safe haven, and to secure our maritime domain,” he added.
Joint Force Commander of the RBAF, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, said that a range of training exercises will be conducted at sea requiring the Maritime Security Task Force to apply the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise Standard Operating Procedures and the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea documents.
The subsequent Counter Terrorism phase will be conducted as the Task Group approaches Singapore.
Planning and coordination meetings held at the Multi-National Coordinating Centre (MNCC) and Force Integration Training by the participants preceded the exercise phase.
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