BAGAN, MYANMAR, Wednesday, 19 November 2014 – The ASEAN Defence Ministers gathered in Bagan, Myanmar, for the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat).
Representing His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Yasmin, as Brunei Darussalam’s ADMM Leader, met with his ASEAN counterparts from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippiines, Singapore and Vietnam to review, and discuss ways to enhance bilateral defence relations.
During the bilateral meetings, the Brunei Darussalam’s ADMM Leader informed his counterparts on the current status of the ADMM direct communications link (DCL) initiative, and expressed his deepest appreciation for the continued support for this initiative to be implemented by the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia in March 2014.
An ad hoc working group, composed of policy and technical officials, were activated, and convened on 21 – 23 October 2014 in Brunei Darussalam. This working group is responsible for the overall operational supervision of the DCL, and the continuing review of its technical parameters and operational procedures. The second meeting is scheduled to be held in Brunei Darussalam on 13 – 15 January 2015.
The ADMM DCL initiative is aimed at providing a permanent, rapid, reliable and confidential means by which any two ASEAN Defence Ministers may communicate with each other to arrive at mutual decisions in handling crisis or emergency situations, in particular related to maritime security.
The goal would not be to resolve underlying issues, but to effectively manage and contain tensions in the event of a possible military encounter, to foster de-escalation, and to provide channel for initial quick reaction and assistance in emergency situations.
ASEAN Defence Ministers have responded to the call made by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam last year, in His Majesty’s capacity as the Chairman of the 22nd ASEAN Summit, in supporting the idea of putting in place practical procedures, which could assist in avoiding undesired incidents at sea.
Brunei Darussalam’s ADMM Leader also informed about the Combined Field Training Exercise between the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and the ADMM-Plus Counter Terrorism to be held in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in May 2016.