French Navy Frigate Docks at Royal Brunei Naval Base

French Navy Frigate, FNS VENDEMIAIRE arrived safely at the Royal Brunei Navy Muara Naval Base on the morning of March 23. The contingent is led by the commanding officer of FNS VENDEMIAIRE, Commander Joffrey Guerry.

Present to receive the ship to the port of call was Rear Admiral Anne Cullere, Joint Commander of Armed Forces in French Polynesia and the Commander of the French Maritime Forces in the Pacific. Also present was the Commanding Officer of KDB DARULEHSAN from the Royal Brunei Navy, Lt Col (L) Shamsul Bahreen bin Taweh. FNS VENDEMIAIRE’s visit to the country lasted  from 23 March to 27 March 2013.

Rear Admiral Anne Cullere and Commander Joffrey Guerry made Courtesy Calls to several of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces top Officers and Commanders which includes Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy. Several points were on the agenda but more focus was put on the discussion of maritime concerns.

Rear Admiral Anne Cullere also took the opportunity to make courtesy calls to Col (RTD) Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham
bin Pg Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary of Policy and Development, Joint Force Commander, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Abd Aziz bin Mohd Tamit, Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Yussof bin Hj Abdul Rahman, Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force and Col (L) Rahman bin Director of Intelligence.

As part of their visit, Rear Admiral Anne Cullere and Commander Joffrey Guerry also made several visits around Brunei Darussalam including places of huge cultural significance to the Brunei People like the Royal Regallia and Brunei Museum. A sports interaction was also organised between the officers of FNS VENDEMIAIRE and othe Royal Brunei Navy where a friendly match of football was played. Although a friendly match, the two teams played in full competitive spirit.

This visit was aimed at continuing the long-established bilateral relations. Areas of military cooperation between both countries were also explored, targeting to strengthen the friendship and camaraderie between the two countries.

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Naval Today Staff, March 28, 2013; Image: Brunei Navy