TWO NAVIES, ONE VISION: RE-AFFIRMING ENDURING FRIENDSHIP AND STEADFAST COMMITMENTS

The RMN has successfully hosted the 17th Navy-to-Navy Talk (N2NT) with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 25 to 27 June at the Submarine Force Headquarters, Kota Kinabalu Naval Base, Sabah.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vice Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Ts. Shamsuddin bin Ludin, Deputy Chief of RMN and his counterpart, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley, AM, CSC, RAN, Deputy Chief of RAN.

The N2NT programme began with the launch of the Language Lab in Kota Kinabalu Naval Base by both Co-Chairmen, which was established through the Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Programme (MAJDP) Small Scale Works project. This was followed by a courtesy call between both leaders and the Plenary Session of the N2NT.

The RMN-RAN N2NT serves as a vital platform to reaffirm the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. The 17th edition of the N2NT saw discussions on a broad range of cooperation and initiatives, ranging from exchange of viewpoints on strategic outlooks, operational activities, joint and multilateral exercises, personnel development, and submarine force collaboration.

This year’s talks also successfully explored new areas of collaboration, aimed at advancing institutional ties and operational synergy.

In support of long-term partnership goals, both sides underscored the importance of professional development, synergising information sharing, and the promotion of shared values and good practices between both navies. The integration of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) principles was also highlighted as a positive step forward in aligning defence cooperation with broader international norms.

In nutshell, the 17th N2NT has successfully reinforced the shared commitment of both navies to deepening defence diplomacy, enhancing maritime interoperability, and contributing to a more secure and stable maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region.