ISTANA NURUL IMAN, Monday, 20 November 2017 – His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) today received in audience Lieutenant General Nicholas Pope, CBE, Deputy Chief of The General Staff and Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas of the United Kingdom. The audience ceremony took place at Istana Nurul Iman.
Accompanying Lieutenant General Nicholas Pope at the audience ceremony were His Excellency Richard Stephen Lindsay, the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; and Colonel James Robinson, the Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas.
Also present were First Admiral (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence; Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; and Captain (Retired) Dato Paduka Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Royal Brunei Navy, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.
Lieutenant General Nicholas Pope and his delegation are in Brunei Darussalam for three days from 18 to 20 November 2017 to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and to visit the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR) in his capacity as the new Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas.
As part of his trip, the General also conducted a visit to the British Forces Brunei and met with the British Loan Service Team. He also delivered an address during a session with the Junior Staff Course at the Defence Academy of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom enjoy a strong and longstanding relationship, including defence. This relationship encompasses various interactions which include exchange of visits, military exercises, trainings, courses and meetings such as the Joint Defence Commission.
KDYMM PADUKA SERI BAGINDA SULTAN DAN YANG DI-PERTUAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM BERKENAN MENERIMA MENGADAP DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF DAN COLONEL COMMANDANT BRIGADE OF GURKHAS UNITED KINGDOM
Istana Nurul Iman, Isnin, 20 November 2017 – Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, Menteri Pertahanan dan Pemerintah Tertinggi Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) hari ini telah berkenan menerima mengadap Leftenan Jeneral Nicholas Pope, CBE, selaku Deputy Chief of The General Staff dan Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas, United Kingdom. Majlis tersebut berlangsung di Istana Nurul Iman.
Menyertai Leftenan Jeneral Nicholas Pope di Majlis Mengadap tersebut ialah Tuan Yang Terutama Richard Stephen Lindsay, Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Negara Brunei Darussalam; dan Kolonel James Robinson, Colonel Brigade of Gurkhas.
Turut hadir ialah Laksamana Pertama (B) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan; Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Mejar Jeneral Dato Paduka Seri Awang Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei; Kepten (B) Dato Paduka Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, TLDB, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan.
Leftenan Jeneral Nicholas Pope dan delegasi berada di Negara Brunei Darussalam selama tiga hari mulai 18 hingga 20 November 2017 bagi membincangkan kerjasama pertahanan dua hala dan membuat lawatan kerja ke 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR) sempena perlantikan beliau sebagai Colonel Commandant Brigade of Gurkhas yang baru.
Semasa lawatan tersebut, beliau juga membuat lawatan ke British Forces Brunei dan berjumpa dengan ahli-ahli British Loan Service Team. Beliau juga menyampaikan ucapan di Kursus Pegawai Staf Rendah di Akademi Pertahanan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei.
Negara Brunei Darussalam dan United Kingdom mempunyai hubungan yang sangat baik dan sudah lama terjalin terutamanya dalam bidang pertahanan. Hubungan ini merangkumi pelbagai interaksi termasuk pertukaran lawatan, eksesais ketenteraan, latihan, kursus dan mesyuarat seperti mesyuarat Joint Defence Commission.