The Star:
German navy ships dock in Malaysia for first time in 22 years
PORT KLANG: Malaysia welcomes the arrival of the German Navy frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg and the combat support ship, FGS Frankfurt am Main, which docked at Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT) here from Oct 15 to 18.
The two German Navy ships are part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 (IPD24), a military initiative involving naval forces from countries like Japan and Germany, aimed at enhancing security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ships have been navigating the Pacific and Indian Oceans since June 2024, showcasing Germany’s naval capabilities and commitment to maritime security.
During a press tour onboard the Baden-Württemberg, the German ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Peter Blomeyer, highlighted the strong economic engagement between Malaysia and Germany, with over 700 German companies operating in Malaysia.
"Like Malaysia, Germany is a trading nation. These companies not only produce and employ local people, but they also pay taxes and ship their goods back to Germany," he said, reflecting on the robust economic ties between the two countries.
Blomeyer reaffirmed Germany's commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
He underscored Germany's dedication to maintaining the rule of law in international waters, stressing the importance of freedom of navigation (FON) and secure shipping routes from the Indo-Pacific to Europe.
Meanwhile, Baden-Württemberg’s Rear Admiral Helge Risch expressed his pleasure at being in Malaysia and thanked representatives from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) for their warm welcome.
"It was in 2002 when the last German ship visited Malaysia, which was 22 years ago. But I am pretty sure that this will happen more frequently in the future because it means a lot to us to be welcomed here,” he said.
Risch explained that their visit is part of naval diplomacy, aimed at establishing contact with their Malaysian counterparts.
Do something anything
No comments:
Post a Comment