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Foreign military officials have visited various sites across the Northern Territory and South Australia as part of the Service Attachés and Advisers Group (SAAG) engagement program’s goal to improve relationships with international partners.
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The group visited ADF establishments, Defence industry facilities and cultural sites to provide the foreign military officials with exposure to a range of Defence capabilities and engagement opportunities with Defence representatives.
Wing Commander Sean Ahern, deputy director of defence visits and attaché management who manages the engagement program for the SAAG contingent, said he recognised the importance of building enduring relationships to enhance understanding and improve how Australia works together with international partners.
“Through the SAAG engagement program, the military representatives from other countries can meet many people and gain valuable perspectives on the Australian Defence Force," WGCDR Ahern said.
“Growing relationships and building enduring partnerships is incredibly important for understanding the region and how we can work together.
“These multi-lateral relationships are integral to our core business in Defence, so that when we coordinate international responses to a crisis, event or engagement, we already have that existing relationship of trust and mutual understanding.”
Colonel Khanrithy Morn, Defence Attaché to the Royal Cambodia Embassy said he enjoyed the experience.
“The SAAG engagement programs have provided crucial benefit for the Defence Attaché community to build up a strong cooperation with both Australia and within the SAAG ourselves,” he said.
“Importantly, this event was another opportunity for SAAG members to get to know more about Australia’s air, land and military technology development capabilities, and Australian culture.
“As a representative from Cambodia, one of Australia’s partners in the region, I believe that understanding your partner’s defence capabilities, culture and getting to know people are key for the military diplomatic job to promote harmony in support of a safe and secure environment in the region.”
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been the first tour of Defence establishments the SAAG has undertaken as a collective.
"The SAAG engagement program is a critical component of Defence’s diplomatic engagement,” WGCDR Ahern added.
The SAAG engagement program varies from year to year, and will continue throughout 2021 with visits to different Australian Defence establishments, industry partners, cultural sites and regional areas.
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