JUNE 20, 2025 – The 11th annual Bersama Warrior exercise began here with an opening ceremony June 17 with keynote addresses from Malaysian Lt. Gen. Dato’ Zahani Bin Hj Zainal Abidin and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Ake.
Bersama Warrior is an annual, bilateral joint exercise sponsored by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and hosted by the Malaysian Armed Forces. The exercise enhances U.S. and Malaysian defense readiness, improves interoperability, and strengthens the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program relationship between the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Washington National Guard.
“As we sharpen our operational planning, we also strengthen our ability to respond as a unified team to emerging challenges, whether they are humanitarian crises, natural disasters or regional threats to peace and stability,” Ake said during his opening statement.
With more than 90 U.S. personnel participating, this exercise runs through June 26 and will provide the operational planning and lay the groundwork for next year’s exercise. The primary goal of the annual exercise is to provide a venue for exchanging tactics, techniques and procedures for peace support operations, with an emphasis on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance, while demonstrating the U.S. resolve to support the security interests of allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
“To us, this is more than just a planning exercise. It’s a meaningful platform that grows operational readiness, strengthens our beautiful partnership and cultivates a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation of our armed forces,” Zahani said.
Since formalizing their partnership in August 2017, the Washington National Guard and the Malaysian Armed Forces have consistently engaged in exercises such as Bersama Warrior. These regular interactions strengthen mutual capabilities, reinforce security cooperation, and foster meaningful connections between their personnel.
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By Maj. Jeremy Warner
Washington National Guard