Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Darussalam has reaffirmed its commitment to engage and strengthen cooperation with the United States, particularly through the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), to maintain peace and stability in the region. This was stated by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohammad Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Defence, during the Southeast Asia – United States Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held on the sidelines of the 22nd Institute for Strategic Studies’ (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
According to Radio Television Brunei, the meeting assembled Defence Ministers and representatives from Southeast Asian countries, including the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, and the United States. Chaired by the Honourable Pete Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary, the meeting focused on regional security challenges and explored ways to enhance ASEAN’s capacity while boosting engagement and cooperation between the United States and regional countries.
Yang Berhormat also engaged in bilateral discussions with His Excellency K. Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, and His Excellency Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence of the Republic of Singapore. These meetings highlighted the strong and exceptionally positive bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore. Her Excellency Hajah Noor Qamar binti Haji Sulaiman, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Singapore, was also in attendance.