BOLKIAH GARRISON, Thursday, 23 October 2025 – The Opening Ceremony of the 31st iteration of the Bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2025 (CARAT 31/2025) between the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the United States Navy (USN) was held at the Wira Seni Concert Hall, RBAF Band Building, Bolkiah Garrison. The CARAT 31/2025 Exercise will be conducted over eight days, from 23 to 30 October 2025.
The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks by Yang Mulia Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Latiff, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Headquarters, followed by Yang Mulia Captain Matthew Cox, Deputy Commodore, Commander Destroyer Seven (COMDESRON SEVEN). Both sides expressed their appreciation for the close and longstanding relationship between the two armed forces and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation through continuous joint training and exercises.
Also present to witness the ceremony was Her Excellency Caryn R. McClelland, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Brunei Darussalam, along with participants from both armed forces.
This year’s CARAT 31/2025 Exercise features a series of comprehensive activities across the maritime, air and land domains. The key components include Subject Matter Expert Exchange programs in the areas of Engineering, Medical, Legal Symposium, Maritime Domain Awareness, Cyber and Communications Training, Force Protection, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Port Security, Media Relations and Staff Exercise. The exercise will also
involve the deployment of a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft as part of the joint operational activities.
In addition, community relations activity is also scheduled to be held at the Paraplegic and Physically Handicapped Association, as well as a public performance at One City Shopping Centre, Brunei-Muara District.
The CARAT Exercise serves as an annual bilateral training platform between the RBAF and the USN, aimed to enhance interoperability, professionalism, and proficiency between both armed forces and participating agencies. It also plays a vital role of fostering stronger collaboration in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security challenges through a more integrated and coordinated approach.
MAJLIS PEMBUKAAN EKSESAIS
COOPERATION AFLOAT READINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) 2025 KE-31
BOLKIAH GARISON, Khamis, 23 Oktober 2025 – Majlis Pembukaan Eksesais Dua Hala Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2025 ke-31
(CARAT 31/2025) di antara Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS) telah berlangsung di Dewan Konsert Wira Seni, Bangunan Pancaragam ABDB, Bolkiah Garison. Eksesais CARAT 31/2025 ini akan diadakan selama lapan hari bermula dari 23 hingga 30 Oktober 2025.
Majlis dimulakan dengan ucapan alu-aluan oleh Yang Mulia Leftenan Kolonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin Pehin Datu Laksamana Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Latiff, Ketua Staf Markas Angkatan Bersama, diikuti oleh Yang Mulia Kepten Matthew Cox, Deputy Commodore, Commander Destroyer Seven (COMDESRON SEVEN). Kedua-dua pihak menzahirkan penghargaan terhadap hubungan erat yang sedia terjalin antara kedua-dua angkatan tentera serta menekankan iltizam untuk terus memperkukuh kerjasama pertahanan dua hala melalui latihan dan eksesais bersama yang berterusan.
Turut hadir menyaksikan majlis tersebut adalah Puan Yang Terutama Caryn R. McClelland, Duta Besar Istimewa dan Mutlak Amerika Syarikat ke Negara Brunei Darussalam, serta para peserta dari kedua-dua angkatan tentera.
Bagi tahun ini, Eksesais CARAT 31/2025 akan merangkumi pelbagai aktiviti di laut, udara dan darat. Antara pengisian utama yang dirancang termasuk program Pertukaran Pakar Subjek dalam bidang Kejuruteraan, Perubatan, Simposium Perundangan, Maritime Domain Awareness, Latihan Siber dan Komunikasi,
Force Protection, Explosive Ordnance Disposal,
Port Security, Perhubungan Media dan
Staff Exercise. Eksesais ini turut akan melibatkankan
penugasan aset pesawat rondaan maritim P-8 sebagai sebahagian daripada aktiviti operasi bersama.
Selain itu, aktiviti kemasyarakatan turut dirancang, termasuk lawatan ke
Persatuan Orang Berkerusi Roda dan Cacat Anggota, serta persembahan awam yang dijadualkan berlangsung di One City Shopping Centre, Daerah Brunei Muara.
Eksesais CARAT merupakan latihan tahunan dua hala diantara ABDB dan TLAS yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan interoperabiliti, profesionalisme dan kecekapan kedua-dua angkatan tentera dan agensi-agensi yang terlibat. Ianya juga berperanan penting dalam meningkatkan kerjasama dalam menghadapi cabaran keselamatan tradisional dan bukan tradisional secara lebih bersepadu dan berkesan.
