The Thai Royal Navy hosted the 8th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting on August 27-28 to discuss and exchange views on regional maritime cooperation.

The meeting, themed “Roles for the ASEAN Navies after ASEAN Integration in 2015”, was one of the military-to-military interactions under the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The meeting, which drew representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, debated cooperative activities and maritime security among member nations, as well as their action plans for the next two years.

Apart from the enhancement of the relationship, participants discussed the initiatives brought forward by each navy, including the draft ASEAN Navies Roadmap, which aims to align the ASEAN navies to sail towards the same purpose and objectives.

The Thai Royal Navy proposed the hosting of an international fleet review in 2017 to join ASEAN in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of its founding. They also suggested conducting a multilateral combined naval exercise among ASEAN navies as well.

With all the proposals, the Royal Thai Navy was confident that it would shore up close relationship and cooperation among the ASEAN navies, and foster a good image in the world community.

The event was first held in 2001 and is hosted rotationally by each ASEAN country as a platform for the ASEAN navy chiefs to exchange opinions on prevailing issues of the region’s maritime security situation in order to enhance understanding, trust, and confidence.-VNA