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) received in audience Vice Admiral Ben Key CBE Royal Navy, United Kingdom’s (UK) Fleet Commander yesterday.
Accompanying the UK’s Fleet Commander at the audience ceremony were High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Brunei Darussalam Richard Lindsay, Defence Adviser of the United Kingdom to Brunei Darussalam Colonel Mike Page, and Royal Marines Naval Assistant to the Fleet Commander Captain Stuart Mitchell.
Also present were Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the RBAF Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud.
Vice Admiral Ben Key and his delegation arrived in Brunei Darussalam on Friday for the Exercise Setia Kawan III, a combined Brunei-UK demonstration tomorrow, where His Majesty has consented to witness the demonstration.
The exercise programme will include a visit to HMS ALBION, the same vessel that paid a courtesy visit to Brunei Darussalam in April 30 to May 2, and a combined amphibious demonstration at the Penanjong Garrison.
Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom enjoy a strong and longstanding defence relationship, underpinned by extensive defence and military interactions.
This relationship encompasses various interaction and co-operation such as exchange of visits, defence and military meetings, military exercises, trainings, and courses.
This has enhanced the co-operation and reinforced the people-to-people ties between the personnel of both the RBAF and the British Armed Forces.
