PARIS, FRANCE, Friday 6 February 2015 – The Ministry of Defence of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Defence of the French Republic conducted its 11th JDWC meeting at the Ministry of Defence, Paris. The meeting was to further identify areas of defence cooperation that could further enhance and strengthen the existing defence relations between both countries. The meeting was co-chaired by IGA Jacques Cousquer, Director for Asia and Pacific, Directorate for International Development (DI) Direction Generale de l’ Armement (DGA), France and Mr. Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. Also in attendance were the defence and military officials from both countries.
Prior to the meeting, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), paid courtesy call on Guillaume Schlumberger, Assistant Secretary For Defence Strategy, Counter-Proliferation & Strategic Foresight, Directorate General For International Relations And Strategy, Ministry Of Defence (Directeur De La Stratégie De Défense, De La Prospective Et De La Contre-Prolifération) and on IGA Jacques Cousquer, the co-chair of the 11th JDWC meeting.
As with previous JDWC meetings, both sides discussed issues pertaining to courses, trainings and other bilateral defence cooperation matters. Brunei Darussalam also gave a briefing on the regional security outlook while the French on issues of “sensitive goods export control” as part of the exchange of views by both sides.
This year, the JDWC meeting was also held back to back with a workshop conducted by the French’s CATOD (Centre d’analyse technico-opérationnelle de défense), as part of an exposure to the processes for technical and operational analysis and the methodology and approaches to synthesize objectives and scenarios, which is viewed beneficial towards the development of the RBAF’s smart acquisition and decision making processes, such as its National Modelling and Simulation Centre (NMSC).
The delegates also had a first hand view of the operations and facilities in military establishments such as the CDAOA (Air Defence and Air Operations Command) and CDC (Operational Air C4I Centre) at Cinq-Mars-La-Pile. The visit provided further insight and exposure into appreciating the building blocks for development of an air defence, surveillance and early warning capability for Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
As part of the programmes arranged by the French side, the Brunei delegation also have the opportunity to visit several places of interests including the Military Academy and the Museum of Army which has provide an enriching experience of the diverse cultural and long historical foundations of the French military.
The establishment of the Joint Defence Working Committee between Brunei Darussalam and the French Republic was part of the scope identified under the Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of France Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in Defence Matters and in Defence Equipment signed on 25 February 1999 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The next Joint Defence Commission Meeting will be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2016.