Some vessels involve in the exercise. Source: MINDEF The Singaporean and Indonesian Navies are jointly holding the sixth Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure Exercise (WP MCMEX) from August 25-28 with the involvement of naval forces from 16 countries.
According to the Singapore Ministry of Defence, the exercise has drawn more than 800 personnel, 13 ships and five underwater vehicle teams.
Along with professional exchanges, participants will conduct a mine-sweeping exercise in the Singapore Strait and the offshore waters in Indonesia’s Pulau Bintan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Singapore’s Navy Chief Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han highlighted the significance of cooperation in maintaining maritime freedom at sea as well as the need to stay vigilant and be ready to respond to threats.
The exercise will help build capacity and strengthen interoperations among participants while serving as a useful platform for forging friendship and strengthening mutual understanding, he said.
WP MCMEX is part of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. A press release from the Singapore Ministry of Defence stated that the participation of various countries in the exercise reflects their strong commitment to multilateral cooperation and regional security.-VNA
