BOLKIAH GARRISON, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 – The Ministry of Defence received a 2-day official visit by the Commander of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), His Excellency Admiral Harry Harris Jr from 20 February to 22 February 2018.
Upon arrival at the Ministry of Defence at Bolkiah Garrison this morning, Admiral Harris Jr was accorded with a Guard of Honour comprising of personnel from the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF). He then proceeded to pay courtesy calls to Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Second Minister of Defence and Major General Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
During the courtesy calls, both sides affirmed the longstanding and close defence relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the United States of America which continues to grow and strengthen over the years, namely through Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), preceded by Exercise Kingfisher between the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and United States Navy (USN). The relations between the two countries is further bolstered by regular defence interactions under the multilateral framework of ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) such as military exercises, and conferences.
Prior his visit to the Ministry of Defence, Admiral Harris Jr. took the opportunity to confer the “Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)” award for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services” to Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, the former Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces at the US Ambassador’s official residence. Under his leadership and support, Brunei Darussalam participated for the first time in the Rim of the Pacific exercise in 2014 and co-hosted three important USPACOM multi-lateral conferences in Brunei Darussalam. He is the first RBAF Commander, and the second Chief of Defence Force in the region, to receive such recognition.
This is Admiral Harris Jr’s first visit to Brunei Darussalam since his appointment as the 24th Commander of USPACOM in 27 May 2015.
LAWATAN RASMI OLEH LAKSAMANA HARRY HARRIS JR, KOMANDER PERINTAH PASIFIK AMERIKA SYARIKAT (USPACOM)
BOLKIAH GARISON, Rabu, 21 Februari 2018 – Kementerian Pertahanan telah menerima kunjungan rasmi dari Tuan Yang Terutama Laksamana Harry Harris Jr, Komander Perintah Pasifik Amerika Syarikat (USPACOM) selama dua hari ke Negara Brunei Darussalam bermula pada 20 Februari 2018 hingga 22 Februari 2018.
Sejurus tiba ke Kementerian Pertahanan, Bolkiah Garison, beliau disambut dengan kawalan kehormatan yang terdiri daripada anggota Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB). Laksamana Harris Jr. mengadakan kunjungan hormat kepada Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (Bersara) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Menteri Pertahanan Kedua dan kepada Mejar Jeneral Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB).
Semasa kunjungan hormat tersebut, kedua-kedua pihak telah menekankan akan hubungan dua hala pertahanan yang rapat di antara Brunei Darussalam dan Amerika Syarikat yang terus berkembang, terutamanya melalui Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), di mana didahului oleh Exercise Kingfisher di antara Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (RBN) dan Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat. Hubungan pertahanan di antara dua belah pihak diperkuatkan lagi oleh interaksi pertahanan yang kerap di bawah rangka Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN dengan rakan dialog atau ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus, termasuk eksesais ketenteraan dan juga persidangan.
Sebelum lawatan rasmi beliau ke Kementerian Pertahanan, Laksamana Harris Jr. berkesempatan untuk menyampaikan anugerah “Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services” kepada Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, mantan Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei di kediaman rasmi Duta Besar Amerika Syarikat. Di bawah kepimpinan beliau, Brunei Darussalam buat pertama kalinya menyertai dalam latihan Rim of the Pacific pada tahun 2014 dan juga menjadi tuan rumah kepada tiga persidangan pelbagai hala yang dianjurkan bersama dengan USPACOM di Brunei Darussalam. Beliau merupakan pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei yang pertama dan juga pemerintah pertahanan yang kedua di rantau ini, yang menerima anugerah tersebut.
Lawatan ini adalah lawatan pertama Laksamana Harris Jr. ke Brunei Darussalam sejak perlantikannya sebagai Komander Perintah Pasifik Amerika Syarikat (USPACOM) pada 27 Mei 2015.