Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof was hosted to a dinner reception aboard the Australian Collins Class Submarine HMAS Dechaineux yesterday. The first submarine to dock in Brunei Darussalam will be in the Sultanate from March 7 until today.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Commander Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah and Service Commanders were also present.
High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Darussalam Nicola Rosenblum, Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan and Commanding Officer of HMAS Dechaineux Commander Brad Francis welcomed the minister and the delegation from the Ministry of Defence and RBAF.
The inaugural submarine visit underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and Australia that in recent years received a boost through a comprehensive spectrum of bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof during the dinner reception aboard the Australian Collins Class Submarine HMAS Dechaineux. PHOTO: MINDEF