BATAM, INDONESIA, Tuesday, 26 September 2023 – The inaugural ASEAN Solidarity Exercise – 01 Natuna (ASEX-01N) 2023 officiated on the 18 September has concluded on 23 September 2023 in which the exercise between ASEAN Member States’ armed forces hosted by the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) was held in Batam and Pulau Natuna, Republic of Indonesia. This exercise involved five (5) naval ships and representatives from the ten (10) ASEAN member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Republic of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Singapore, Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam as well as representatives from Timor-Leste.
The ASEX-01N 2023 revolved around Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and Maritime Security (MARSEC) that aims to strengthen relationships among participating ASEAN countries in the scope of disaster relief efforts and maritime security. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces’s (RBAF) participation through RBN is a testament to the commitment towards enhancing naval coorperation, confidence building and fostering friendship and strong ties at all levels amongst its ASEAN counterparts. To that end, KDB DARULEHSAN, captained by Lieutenant Commander Mohd Zulyamin bin Mohd Noor, RBN with a crew of sixty-eight (68) personnel, departed Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam and embarked on 11-day deployment beginning 15 September 2023.
KDB DARULEHSAN arrived at Batam Port, Republic of Indonesia on 18 September 2023 and participated in the opening ceremony of ASEX-01N officiated by Admiral Yudo Margono, Commander-in-Chief of TNI on 19 September 2023. The ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Colonel Pengiran Aeddie Masjaffrie bin Pengiran Haji Md Jaafar, Defence Attaché of Brunei Darussalam to Republic of Indonesia, as well as the Commanding Officer of KDB DARULEHSAN, together with participating Armed Forces Chiefs and representatives. The opening ceremony was then followed by Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) and Operation Discussions which serves as a platform to share their views and best practices in maintaining maritime security in the region at the Utama-4 Main Naval Base before ASEX-01N Sea Phase. The Sea Phase of ASEX-01N, focusing on MARSEC was held from 22 to 23 September 2023 in vicinity of Natuna Island, Republic of Indonesia. This segment consisted of ships from the RBN, Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The exercises conducted during this phase consisted of Officer of the Watch Manoeuvres, Tracking exercise, Maritime Interdiction Operation exercise, Replenishment at sea, Search and rescue exercise, and medical evacuation exercise.
ASEX -01 N 2023 was concluded with After Action Review (AAR) and followed by closing ceremony that was held at Sabang Mawang and was attended by Commanding Officers, officers, and personnel from respective participating ships. With that, it helps to further strengthen existing relations between the participating countries armed forces, all participating nations have contributed to the successful conduct of ASEX-01N 2023, thus enhancing the degree of cooperation and interoperability between navies. The RBAF's participation in ASEX-01 N 2023 highlights its continued commitment to regional security and stability and its readiness to work with other regional navies towards achieving common goals.
KDB DARULEHSAN MENYERTAI ASEAN SOLIDARITY IN NATUNA 2023 (ASEX-01 N 2023)
BATAM, INDONESIA, Selasa, 26 September 2023 – ASEAN Solidarity Exercise - 01 Natuna (ASEX-01N) merupakan eksesais di antara angkatan tentera negara - negara anggota ASEAN yang dirasmikan oleh Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) pada 18 September 2023 dan berakhir pada 23 September 2023 di Batam dan Pulau Natuna, Republik Indonesia. Eksesais ini melibatkan lima (5) buah kapal dan wakil-wakil dari sepuluh (10) negara-negara ASEAN iaitu Brunei Darussalam, Kemboja, Republik Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Republik Kesatuan Myanmar, Republik Filipina, Republik Singapura, Kerajaan Thailand dan Republik Sosialis Viet Nam serta wakil daripada Timor Leste.
ASEX-01N 2023 adalah berdasarkan Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) dan Sekuriti Maritim (MARSEC) yang bertujuan untuk menguatkan lagi perhubungan diantara Angkatan Tentera Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan angkatan tentera di negara-negara ASEAN dalam usaha memberi bantuan bencana alam dan juga sekuriti maritim. Penglibatan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) secara umum dan khususnya Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) menunjukkan komitmen, meningkatkan kerjasama tentera laut, membina keyakinan dan memupuk hubungan persahabatan yang kuat di semua peringkat bersama angkatan bersenjata negara - negara ASEAN. Dengan tujuan itu, KDB DARULEHSAN, yang diketuai oleh Leftenan Komander Mohd Zulyamin bin Mohd Noor, TLDB, dengan enam puluh lapan (68) orang anggota, berlepas dari Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara, Negara Brunei Darussalam bagi memulakan pelayaran selama 11 hari bermula 15 September 2023.
KDB DARULEHSAN merapat di Pelabuhan Batam, Republik Indonesia pada 18 September 2023 dan menyertai Majlis Perasmian ASEX-01N yang dirasmikan oleh Laksamana Yudo Margono, Panglima Tentara Nasional Indonesia pada 19 September 2023. Turut hadir untuk acara perasmian tersebut adalah Leftenan Kolonel Pengiran Aeddie Masjaffrie bin Pengiran Haji Md Jaafar, Atase Pertahanan kepada Brunei Darussalam di Republik Indonesia, serta Pegawai Pemerintah Kapal KDB DARULEHSAN, dan juga pemerintah-pemerintah dan wakil angkatan tentera negara – negara yang terlibat. Acara kemudian diteruskan dengan Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) dan Perbincangan operasi dimana ia merupakan satu landasan untuk Angkatan Tentera ASEAN berkongsi pendapat dan kaedah yang bersesuaian dalam mengekalkan kestabilan sekuriti maritim yang dilaksanakan di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Utama-4 sebelum fasa laut bermula. Fasa laut ASEX-01N diadakan pada 22 hingga 23 September 2023 di kawasan perairan Pulau Natuna. Turut serta mengikuti eksesais fasa laut tersebut adalah kapal-kapal dari TLDB, Tentera Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dan juga Tentera Laut Republik Singapura (TLRS). Antara latihan yang dilakukan adalah Officer of the Watch manoeuvres, Tracking exercise, Maritime Interdiction Operation exercise, Replenishment at sea, Search and rescue operation, and medical evacuation exercise
ASEX-01N diakhiri dengan After Action Review (AAR) dan diteruskan dengan Acara Penutup di Sabang Mawang, Republik Indonesia yang dihadiri oleh pegawai-pegawai pemerintah, pegawai-pegawai dan anggota-anggota dari kapal masing-masing. Dengan adanya eksesais seperti ini, ianya dapat mengukuhkan lagi hubungan persahabatan di antara angkatan tentera negara-negara ASEAN, kesemua negara yang ikut serta telah pun menyumbang kepada kejayaan ASEX-01N. Penyertaan ABDB dalam ASEX-01 N 2023 mencerminkan komitmen yang berterusan terhadap penjagaan keamanan dan kestabilan serantau dan juga kesediaan untuk bekerjasama dengan angkatan-angkatan tentera laut sahabat ke arah mencapai matlamat bersama.
