BALI, INDONESIA, Saturday, 11 March 2023 – The Royal Brunei Navy attended the Inaugural Maritime Security Symposium 2023 hosted by the United Kingdom Royal Navy Maritime Warfare School from Monday, 6 March until Friday, 10 March 2023. A total of 51 participants attended the symposium representing Maritime Security stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Bruneian representation included three (03) officers from the Royal Brunei Navy, Lieutenant Commander Wan Abdul Naafi bin Metussin, RBN, Staff Officer Grade 2 Intelligence as Head of Delegation, Lieutenant Commander Najihah binti Haji Abdul Hisab, RBN, Staff Officer Grade 2 Research, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Pg Mohammad Fadhil bin Pg Haji Ali, RBN, Staff Officer Grade 3 Naval Research Cell, one (01) from the Joint Force Headquarters Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Lieutenant Ahmad Nafees bin Haji Kamsani, RBN, Staff Officer Grade 3 J3 (Navy) and one (01) from the Judge Advocate General's Office, RBAF, Captain Adibah binti Haji Mohamed, Military Legal Officer (Operations).
The Symposium was convened with the purpose of enhancing regional Maritime Security through capacity building and to act as a platform for future cooperation between regional stakeholders of Maritime Security as part of the UK's Indo-Pacific Tilt strategy. This was reiterated in the opening remarks delivered by Colonel Paul Reynolds, British Defence Attaché to Indonesia as the chairperson of the symposium. The symposium convened speakers with a combined wealth of experience on maritime security and maritime terrorism sharing their experiences and their lessons learnt. Participants of the symposium also presented an overview of their respective maritime security domains as well as participating in the Maritime Security Tabletop Exercise.
Royal Brunei Navy's participation, and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces' participation by extension, in the inaugural symposium hosted by the British Embassy in Indonesia represents the commitment and support towards regional maritime peace and stability through cooperation with regional partners.
