Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr., the Commander of United States Pacific Command (USPACOM), arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, February 20.

While in Brunei, Admiral Harris had an audience with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at Istana Nurul Iman.  He met with other Brunei government and military officials, participated in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Roundtable dialogue, and attended an honorary dinner hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).  Admiral Harris also presented a Legion of Merit to former RBAF Commander Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah at a special event hosted by U.S. Ambassador Craig Allen.

The U.S. commitment in the Indo-Pacific is enduring and military cooperation is founded on a platform of promoting security through the rules-based international order.  That framework is based on strong partnerships with a purpose and seeking ways to further meaningful engagement between the United States and countries like Brunei.

USPACOM’s area of responsibility encompasses about half the earth's surface, stretching from the waters off the west coast of the U.S. to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole.  USPACOM is one of six geographic Unified Combatant Commands of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Admiral Harris is the senior U.S. military authority in the Indo-Pacific region and reports to the President of the United States through the Secretary of Defense.  USPACOM is supported by four component commands: U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific, and U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific.  These commands are headquartered in Hawai'i and have forces stationed and deployed throughout the region.