West Nusa Tenggara To Host MNEK-2018

MATARAM, W Nusa Tenggara, March 7 (Antara) - The Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is to host the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) from May 4 to 9, 2018 with the participation of 25 countries. "Some 25 countries will certainly be present in the Multilateral Naval Exercise of Komodo 2018," Navy Chief of Staff Assistant of Operations Admiral Ary Atmaja remarked here on Tuesday. Atmaja said the 25 countries include Brunei Darussalam, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, China, Poland, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Peru, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, France, Myanmar, Srilanka, Sweden and Turkey. He explained that the countries in the world to this day still hold the principle in the defense of their country according to the principle of "Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum" (if want peace be prepared for war). The MNEK 2018 is a joint exercise that involves many countries with one of its goals is to build naval confidence of countries in the world especially related to maritime security issues. "The participating countries of this exercise have implemented diplomacy that became one of the universal roles of the navy in the world," he explained. Themed "Cooperation to Respond to Disaster and Humanitarian Issues", the MNEK 2018 has invited the navies of friendly countries to work together in dealing with natural disasters and assisting humanitarian issues. The MNEK 2018 exercise, initiated by the Navy, is an important activity in the form of non-war exercises by promoting maritime cooperation in the region to gain a strong building base of trust, inter-state trust and inter-navy. During the implementation of Komodo Exercise 2018, activities to be carried out include signing inscriptions, infrastructure development or Engineering Civic Action Program (Encap), health service or Medical Civic Action Program (Medcap). "It also includes, city parade, cultural program, maritime exhibition, fleet run, fun bike, culinary program, coral reef transplant, and sailing pass," said Ary Atmaja.