Australia's already longstanding friendship with Thailand was strengthened when HMAS Perth made a port visit to Sattahip, Thailand, as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 (IPE24).
Commanding Officer Perth Commander Ben Dalton welcomed distinguished guests, including the Director of Naval Intelligence Vice Admiral Nattapol Diewvanich, Australian Ambassador to Thailand Angela Macdonald and Commander IPE24 Commodore Michael Harris, on board Perth for an official reception.
Official reception guests also included representatives from Canada, France, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Turkey, the US and South Korea.
Commodore Harris used his speech to emphasise Australia's commitment to deepening regional partnerships.
"As Australia's flagship regional engagement activity, IPE will help bolster the Australia-Thailand relation, and importantly, facilitate the development of those crucial people-to-people relationships," Commodore Harris said.
"Thailand is a valued partner and friend in the region. Australia and Thailand have a longstanding, broad and deep defence partnership, and our defence cooperation is a key pillar of our strategic partnership."
Australian Ambassador to Thailand affirmed Commander IPE's sentiment.
"HMAS Perth's visit to Thailand as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 24 has not only enhanced our already strong people-to-people links, but also demonstrates that Australia is a trusted, committed and reliable partner to Thailand and south-east Asia," Dr Macdonald said.
Perth's port visit also included official calls to the Royal Thai Fleet Headquarters and the Sattahip Naval Base.
Commodore Harris and Commander Dalton led a delegation from Perth to meet with Chief of Staff to the Royal Thai Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Arpha Chapona, to thank them for hosting IPE24 and reaffirm Australia and Thailand's longstanding regional partnership.
The discussions centred on the importance of the close relationship between the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Australian Navy. The event also served as a reunion between Perth's Operations Officer Lieutenant Commander Lachlan Marsh and his ADF Academy classmate Lieutenant Benz Phanurak, who was a member of the Thai Fleet Command's delegation.
"The reunion serves as yet another example of our strong friendship and our shared interest in a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," Commander Dalton said.
IPE24 returns to Thailand in October for information exchanges, including personnel management, maritime law, aviation safety education and sports trainer workshops.
