Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Tri Budi Utomo, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, said AUMX-2 is not merely a naval exercise but also an opportunity for participating navies to build trust and mutual understanding, share experience and enhance interoperability. Through these activities, countries reaffirm their shared commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

Rear Admiral Katie F. Sheldon, Deputy Commander of the 7th Fleet under the US Indo-Pacific Command, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), support for ASEAN centrality, and joint efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. She said participating countries aim to strengthen a more resilient, secure and prosperous ASEAN, including cooperation in countering transnational crime, terrorism and extremism, as well as disaster management, humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping operations, and the maintenance of maritime security and stability.

From December 9 to 13, AUMX-2 features a wide range of activities, including maritime maneuvering drills; formation sailing exercises; basic communications training using hand signals, flags and light signals; ship damage control exercises; search and rescue training; and offshore medical first aid drills. The programme also includes scenario-based tabletop discussions, expert workshops, as well as cultural and sports exchange activities.

Vietnam is taking part in all exercise components and activities with the aim of enhancing organizational, command and coordination capacity, improving personnel proficiency in operating weapons and technical equipment, gaining experience in hosting international events.

Colonel Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Region 2 Command, said participation in the exercise helps improve joint operational coordination and naval diplomacy, enabling the Vietnam People’s Navy to work with regional partners to handle situations at sea within authorized frameworks, while stepping up international cooperation to further strengthen professional standards and operational capability.

Rear Admiral Nguyen Thien Quan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People’s Navy, stressed that Vietnam’s participation demonstrates a high sense of responsibility and a shared commitment with ASEAN partners and the United States to promoting peace, stability, friendship and development in the Asia-Pacific, particularly within the ASEAN-US cooperation framework, thereby contributing to building strategic trust for common development.

Vietnam’s involvement in AUMX-2 also shows the country’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, while underscoring the nation’s role as an active and responsible member in realizing the cooperation priorities set by the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Vietnam Navy ship departs for ASEAN–US maritime exercise

VOV.VN - A Vietnamese naval vessel left the port of Brigade 171 on December 4 to participate in the second ASEAN–US maritime exercise, scheduled for December 9–13, in Indonesia.

ASEAN, China hold first-ever maritime exercise

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China launched the first-ever maritime exercise off the coast of Zhanjiang city, southern Guangdong province on October 22.