Niël Terblanché
The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) has accredited six foreign defence attachés and advisors to strengthen international military relations.
Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, the chief of the NDF, presided over the accreditation ceremony on Friday.
The newly accredited defence representatives are Captain (Navy) Marcelo De Abreu Souza from Brazil, Commodore Samuel Walker from Ghana, Colonel (Mar) Guntur Almasyil from Indonesia, Colonel Gerard Conor O’Hara OBE from the United Kingdom, Colonel Franco Linzalone from Italy, and Lieutenant Colonel Margot Cunningham from the United States of America.
Pinehas said defence diplomacy plays an important role in a connected world.
“Defence diplomacy and strong international relations are vital, peaceful tools for promoting global cooperation, security, and stability. I assure the attachés/advisors of the NDF full support and cooperation during their tour of duty in Namibia,” he said.
Since its independence in 1990, Namibia has promoted peaceful relations with global partners.
That same year, the NDF was established. It has since joined peacekeeping missions and joint military exercises to support regional and international stability.
Pinehas said the accreditation would strengthen bilateral ties, support knowledge sharing, and lead to joint training.
He said this would improve the NDF’s skills and help maintain peace and security in the region and beyond.
He added that military diplomacy fits into the country’s foreign policy goals, which focus on engaging with multiple countries and building ties across continents.
“By welcoming these defence representatives, Namibia continues to position itself as an active participant in global security dialogues and initiatives,” he said.
