MUARA, Thursday, 3 August 2023 – USS BLUE RIDGE of the United States Navy (USN) has arrived at Muara Commercial Port for a goodwill visit to Brunei Darussalam from 3 to 5 August 2023, led by Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the USN 7th Fleet.
USS BLUE RIDGE is a Command Ship of the USN and is the flagship of the 7th Fleet based in Yokosuka, Japan. Upon arriving at Brunei Darussalam, USS BLUE RIDGE was welcomed with a ceremony organised by the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) led by Commander Saiful Hazril bin Ali, RBN, Fleet Chief of Staff.
Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the USN’s 7th Fleet, hosted a visit by key leaders from the Ministry of Defence onboard USS BLUE RIDGE. The delegation consisted of Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Captain Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, Acting Commander of the RBN, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, RBAF Joint Force Commander, Colonel (U) Haji Mohd Muluddin bin Awang Haji Latif, Director of Intelligence, and Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin PDLDP Haji Abdul Latiff, Commanding Officer, RBAF Special Forces Regiment.
Officers from the USS BLUE RIDGE and KDB DARUSSALAM also had a coordination meeting in preparation for the upcoming passage exercise which will be carried out upon USS BLUE RIDGE’s departure. Other planned interactions will include a Deck Reception and further engagements with RBN through social and cultural exchanges. Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander USN 7th Fleet, and his delegation will also be paying a courtesy call to key leaders within the Ministry of Defence.
This series of interactions reflect the cordial defence and security relations between the RBN and USN established through years of interaction at the bilateral and multilateral platforms, where the RBN reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its bilateral ties with USN.
LAWATAN MUHIBAH USS BLUE RIDGE, TENTERA LAUT AMERIKA SYARIKAT KE NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
MUARA, Khamis, 3 Ogos 2023 – Kapal Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS), USS BLUE RIDGE telah tiba di Perlabuhan Komersial Muara bagi Lawatan Muhibah ke Brunei Darussalam bermula 3 hingga 5 Ogos 2023 yang diketuai oleh Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Komander 7th Fleet TLAS.
USS BLUE RIDGE adalah sebuah
Command Ship TLAS yang juga merupakan
Flagship 7th Fleet TLAS yang berpangkalan di Yokosuka, Jepun. Ketibaan USS BLUE RIDGE disambut dengan acara yang dikendalikan oleh Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) di Pelabuhan Komersial Muara diketuai oleh Komander Saiful Hazril bin Ali, TLDB, Ketua Staf Armada.
Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Komander 7th Fleet TLAS juga telah menganjurkan lawatan daripada lapisan kepimpinan Kementerian Pertahanan diatas kapal USS BLUE RIDGE. Rombongan Kementerian Pertahanan terdiri daripada Yang Mulia Mejar Jeneral Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), Brigedier Jeneral Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Pemerintah Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB), Kepten Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, Pemangku Pemerintah TLDB, Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Pemerintah Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB), Brigedier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersama ABDB, Kolonel (U) Haji Mohd Muluddin bin Awang Haji Latif, Pengarah Perisikan, dan Leftenan Kolonel Muhammad Suwardi Ariffin bin PDLDP Haji Abdul Latiff, Pegawai Pemerintah, Rejimen Pasukan Khas ABDB.
Pegawai-pegawai USS BLUE RIDGE dan KDB DARUSSALAM juga telah mengadakan mesyuarat koordinasi bagi persiapan
Passage Exercise
yang akan dilaksanakan setelah perlepasan USS BLUE RIDGE. Interaksi lain yang telah dirancang termasuk resepsi diatas kapal USS BLUE RIDGE dan juga interaksi bersama TLDB melalui acara-acara social dan kebudayaan. Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander 7th Fleet TLAS, dan delegasinya, juga akan melaksanakan kunjungan hormat kepada lapisan kepimpinan Kementerian Pertahanan.
Siri interaksi ini mencerminkan hubungan keselamatan dan pertahanan yang mesra di antara TLDB dan TLAS melalui kerjasama di peringkat dua hala dan juga pelbagai hala yang telah lama wujud. TLDB turut menegaskan komitmen dalam mengukuhkan hubungan dua-hala dengan TLAS.