KUANTAN – A total of 800 participants from seven countries are involved in the Exercise Pacific Partnership 2023 (PP23), once again witnessing Malaysia being selected as the host from September 5 to 15.

The exercise, which is based on the concept of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), is an initiative of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and is conducted by the United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) in the vicinity of Kuantan.

Among the countries participating in the exercise are Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea.

Assistant Chief of Staff J1, Royal Malaysian Navy Joint Force Headquarters (TLDM), Captain Jamalul Shafri Mohd Shukor, said that the objective of this year’s exercise is to enhance the capabilities and cooperation among military forces, government agencies, and non-governmental agencies of the participating countries in carrying out HADR humanitarian assistance missions.

“Pacific Partnership 2023 marks a significant historical event to strengthen the relationships among the countries participating in this event.

“This event symbolizes our cooperation and can further strengthen the existing friendly relations among the participating countries, as well as provide mutual benefits for the countries involved in the future,” he said at the Opening Ceremony of PP23 by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) through the Joint Force Headquarters (MK AB) here today.

For the record, this exercise was first conducted in 2006 following the tsunami disaster that struck Aceh, Indonesia, at the end of 2004.