| Hakim Hayat & Aziz Idris |
COMMANDER of the Logistics Group Western Pacific, Task Force 73, Singapore Area Coordinator (COMLOG WESTPAC), United States Navy Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch III yesterday made separate calls on Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud on the sidelines of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise 2018 between the RBAF and the United States Navy.
During the courtesy call on the minister, both sides affirmed the friendly relations between the two countries and the robust bilateral cooperation notably in the area of defence and also highlighted the ongoing cooperation in military-related activities, especially the 24th iteration of the Brunei-United States CARAT Exercise from November 12-16. The Minister of Defence II also conveyed his congratulatory wishes to Rear Admiral Tynch III on his appointment as COMLOG WESTPAC this June 2018.
Meanwhile, during the call on the Commander of the RBAF, both sides reaffirmed the importance of the close bilateral cooperation between the RBAF and the United States Armed Forces, specifically the United States Navy, which has progressed significantly in enhancing military-to-military relationship through the exchanges of high-level visit and exercises.
Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan also extended his utmost appreciation for the continuous support from the United States Navy and hopes to explore more interactions in the future. Existing defence and military cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the United States of America is cemented by the Memorandum of Understanding in Defence Cooperation signed on November 29, 1994.
