Friday, 19 November 2021 – The 27th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2021 between Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the United States Navy (USN) has officially concluded.
The CARAT’s closing remarks were delivered by Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck, USN, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC), Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73), and Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abd. Kadir, Joint Force Commander (JFC), RBAF.
In his remarks, Admiral Sobeck touched on the importance of both armed forces working closely together to maintain peace and prosperity in the region. He stated that the strong historical tie between both countries has made the CARAT exercises a tremendous success despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. He also reiterated that both countries must strengthen this longstanding partnership to provide integrated deterrence, increase interoperability and maintain readiness between the two countries.
Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abd. Kadir, JFC RBAF, in his closing remarks, echoed the significance of CARAT in enhancing the long-existing bilateral relations between both countries. He also expressed his satisfaction that both sides had achieved the objectives of CARAT 2021, although faced with the challenges posed by the current circumstances. With the rapid advancement of technology, CARAT manages to provide a platform for military professionals to exercise, learn, and share innovative technologies. This platform is a strong testament that both sides have shown towards improving the close ties between the two countries.
CARAT 2021 aimed to enhance regional cooperation, interoperability and strengthen professional skills among participating forces despite being unable to conduct the Sea Phase evolutions. This year’s CARAT involved a variety of professional exchanges and Subject Matter Expert Exchange via real-time virtual meetings from both countries, including discussions on Integration to Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Force Protection Training, Capability of Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Maritime Aviation Practices, Women Interaction, Medical and Legal Symposium, dan Public Affairs Webinar. These initiatives highlighted both RBAF and USN commitments in ensuring that CARAT 2021 was carried out within best practices and safely according to the pandemic mitigation guidelines.
CARAT will continue to be conducted annually, and it is hoped that engagement can be conducted physically in the near future.
COOPERATION AFLOAT READINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) 2021 KALI KE-27 TELAH BERAKHIR
Jumaat, 19 November 2021 – Eksesais Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2021 yang ke-27 di antara Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS) telah berakhir secara rasmi.
Ucapan penutup CARAT telah disampaikan oleh Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck, TLAS, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC), Commander Task Force 73 (CTF 73) dan Brigadier Jeneral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abd. Kadir, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersama (AB), ABDB.
Dalam ucapan Admiral Sobeckm, beliau menyentuh kepentingan kerjasama di antara kedua angkatan tentera bagi mempertahankan keamanan dan kemakmuran serantau. Beliau juga mengatakan ikatan sejarah yang kukuh di antara kedua-dua buah negara telah menghasilkan perlaksanaan eksesais CARAT yang mampan di sebalik menempuhi cabaran pandemik pada masa kini. Beliau turut menyatakan bahawa kedua-dua buah negara ini harus mengukuhkan hubungan erat yang terjalin sekian lama bagi sama-sama menyediakan pencegahan bersepadu, meningkatkan interoperabiliti dan mengekalkan tahap kesediaan di antara kedua-dua buah negara.
Brigedier Jeneral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abd. Kadir, JFC ABDB dalam ucapan penutupnya turut menyuarakan kepentingan CARAT dalam meningkatkan hubungan dua hala yang telah lama terjalin antara kedua-dua negara dan merakamkan rasa puas hati di mana perlaksanaan CARAT 2021 ini telah dapat dicapai dengan jayanya walau menempuhi berbagai-bagai cabaran semasa. Dengan kemajuan pesat teknologi, CARAT berjaya menyediakan landasan untuk kedua-dua angkatan tentera berlatih, mempelajari dan berkongsi inovasi teknologi terkini antara satu sama lain. Ini adalah bukti kukuh yang ditunjukkan oleh kedua-dua pihak ke arah meningkatkan hubungan rapat antara kedua-dua negara.
CARAT 2021 bertujuan untuk meningkatkan perhubungan erat, interoperabiliti dan mengukuhkan lagi perkongsian kemahiran tentera walaupun evolusi fasa laut tidak berhasil dilaksanakan. Walau bagaimanapun, CARAT pada tahun ini melibatkan berbagai perkongsian kemahiran dan Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) secara dalam talian dari kedua buah negara, termasuk membincangkan Integrasi Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Latihan Force Protection, Keupayaan Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Latihan Maritime Aviation, Interaksi Wanita, Kemahiran Pancaragam, Kemahiran Perubatan dalam Membendung Pandemik Semasa, Simposium Perundangan dan Webinar Hal Ehwal Awam. Inisiatif ini menyerlahkan komitmen ABDB dan USN dalam memastikan CARAT 2021 dilaksanakan dalam amalan terbaik dan selamat mengikut garis pandu mitigasi pandemik.
Perlaksanaan CARAT ini akan terus diadakan secara tahunan dan dihasratkan agar penglibatan ini akan dapat dilaksanakan secara fizikal di masa akan datang.