| Azrol Azmi |
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, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) yesterday received in audience General Tarnchaiyan Srisuwan, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, at the Istana Nurul Iman.
Accompanying the Chief of Defence Forces during the audience ceremony were Biravij Suwanpradhes, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Brunei Darussalam; General Haspong Yuvarnavandhana, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (1), Royal Thai Armed Forces; General Yosanant Raicharoen, Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (4), Royal Thai Armed Forces; and General Ponpipaat Benyasri, the Chief of Joint Staff, Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Also present were Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Defence II and Major General Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Commander of the RBAF.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Royal Thai Armed Forces enjoy strong and active military-to-military ties, which include regular interactions in exchange of visits, courses, trainings, professional exchanges, and bilateral exercises.
Both armed forces also engage each another through multilateral platforms. The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) participated in the Asean International Fleet Review (IFR) 2017 held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Asean and the first-ever Asean Maritime National Exercise in Thailand.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces also participated as observers in the multi-lateral Cobra Gold Exercise in Thailand from February 14-18, 2018. Tarnchaiyan Srisuwan took over as the Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces in October 2017.
Meanwhile, in another part of Istana Nurul Iman, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam received in audience Jiraporn Srisuwan, spouse of Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces.
Accompanying Jiraporn Srisuwan at the audience ceremony were Supinya Suwanpradhes, spouse of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Brunei Darussalam; Marisa Yuvarnavandhana, spouse of the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (1); Thanaweena Raicharoen, spouse of the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (4); Chairapun Benyasri, spouse of the Chief of Joint Staff; and Datin Hajah Rasidah binti Haji Brahim, the spouse of the Commander of the RBAF.
Also yesterday, Her Majesty consented to receive Caterina Ventura, High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam.
Her Majesty then received Pengiran Datin Nuur ‘Izzah Nabilah binti Pengiran Haji Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri, spouse of Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, former RBAF Commander along with Datin Hajah Rasidah.