BOLKIAH GARRISON, Friday, 16 November 2018 – Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch III, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, Task Force 73, Singapore Area Coordinator (COMLOG WESTPAC), United States Navy, today made separate calls on the Minister of Defence II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof, and the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, in conjunction with the annual Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2018 between the RBAF and the United States Navy.
The Minister of Defence II conveyed his congratulatory wishes to Rear Admiral Tynch III on his appointment as COMLOG WESTPAC this June 2018. Both sides affirmed the friendly relations between the two countries and the robust bilateral cooperation notably in the area of defence. Both sides also highlighted the ongoing cooperation in military-related activities, especially the 24th iteration of the Brunei-United States CARAT Exercise, which took place from 12 to 16 November 2018.
The call on the Commander of the RBAF 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 their military-to-military relationship through the exchanges of high-level visit and exercises. The Commander of the RBAF extended his utmost appreciation for the continuous support from the United States Navy and hope 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 29 November 1994. CARAT continues to be a key platform for military engagement between Brunei Darussalam and the United States, with Brunei Darussalam being one of the original partners for the CARAT Exercise since it was established in 1995.
KUNJUNGAN HORMAT DARIPADA COMMANDER, LOGISTICS GROUP WESTERN PACIFIC (COMLOG WESTPAC)
BOLKIAH GARISON, Jumaat, 16 November 2018 – Laksamana Pertama Murray Joe Tynch III, Commander, Logistics Western Pacific Group, Task Force 73, Singapore Area Coordinator (COMLOG WESTPAC), United States Navy, pada hari ini mengadakan kunjungan hormat secara berasingan kepada Menteri Pertahanan II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (Bersara) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Md. Yussof, dan Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), Mejar Jeneral Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, sempena eksesais tahunan iaitu Eksesais Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2018 di antara ABDB dan United States Navy.
Yang Berhormat Menteri Pertahanan II merakamkan ucapan tahniah atas pelantikan Laksamana Pertama Tynch III sebagai COMLOG WESTPAC yang berkuatkuasa sejak bulan Jun 2018. Kedua belah pihak telah mengesahkan hubungan mesra yang terjalin di antara kedua belah negara dan kerjasama yang sangat baik terutamanya dalam bidang pertahanan. Kedua belah pihak juga menyuarakan kepuasan hati terhadap kerjasama pertahanan dan ketenteraan yang sedia ada, khususnya Eksesais CARAT kali ke-24 yang berlangsung mulai 12 hingga 16 November 2018.
Kunjungan hormat bersama Pemerintah ABDB telah menekankan mengenai kepentingan kerjasama dua hala yang erat di antara ABDB dan United States Armed Forces, khasnya United States Navy yang semakin berkembang melalui lawatan dan eksesais. Pemerintah ABDB merakamkan penghargaan di atas sokongan yang berterusan daripada United States Navy dan berharap untuk mengadakan lebih banyak interaksi pada masa akan datang.
Kerjasama pertahanan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Amerika Syarikat telah dimeterai dengan penandatangan Memorandum Persefahaman dalam kerjasama pertahanan pada 29 November 1994. CARAT terus menjadi landasan kerjasama dalam bidang ketenteraan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Amerika Syarikat. Brunei Darussalam juga adalah salah satu negara rakan kongsi CARAT yang telah menyertai CARAT sejak penubuhannya pada tahun 1995.