MUARA, Saturday, 05 August 2023 – USS BLUE RIDGE
of the United States Navy (USN) departed Muara after a goodwill visit to Brunei Darussalam from 03 to 05 August 2023 led by Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of the 7th Fleet, USN. During their departure, the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) held a farewell ceremony led by Commander Mohamad Nazrin bin Haji Sabli, RBN, Commanding Officer Base. after which USS BLUE RIDGE was joined by KDB DARUSSALAM for a Passage Exercise in conjunction with the Goodwill Visit.
Whilst in Brunei, USS BLUE RIDGE hosted a deck reception attended by Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander, Brigadier General Haji Mohammad Shanonnizam bin Sulaiman, Royal Brunei Land Force Commander, Captain Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, RBN Acting Commander, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, Royal Brunei Air Force Commander, Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, RBAF Joint Force Commander, as well as other senior officers within the Ministry of Defence, RBAF and RBN.
During the Goodwill Visit, a series of interactions between USN and RBN were held through sports and social interaction, as well as through cultural visits. The cultural visits included visits to Masjid Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien as well as Friday prayers at Masjid Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah with the Muslim sailors onboard USS BLUE RIDGE. The USN delegation led by Vice Admiral Karl Thomas also paid a courtesy call to Captain Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, RBN Acting Commander.
This series of interactions represents the cordial defence and security relations between both RBN and USN established through years of engagement at sea and through multilateral events. The RBN reaffirms its commitment to strengthen its bilateral relations with USN, enhancing interoperability towards the goal of cooperation at sea and wishes USS BLUE RIDGE a smooth journey to her next port of call.
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