Chief of Navy Attends 14th Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference in Sydney

RADM Wat (right) met with Chief of the Royal Australian Navy VADM Mark Hammond (left).

Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Sean Wat attended the 14th Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference in Sydney from 4 to 6 November 2025. Hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the conference, themed 'Strength at Sea = Security and Prosperity at Home', brought together naval leaders and maritime experts from across the region to discuss maritime security issues and strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the panel "Maritime Security Challenges – Indo-Pacific Perspectives", RADM Wat elaborated on how navies can work together to uphold stability in the region.

"First, we must continue to build partnerships and interoperability. Exercises, particularly multilateral ones, provide valuable platforms for our fleets to build mutual understanding and operational familiarity in a resource-efficient manner. By bringing multiple partners together in a single setting, such exercises allow forces to exchange best practices, enhance interoperability, and strengthen professional ties. The collective approach not only maximises training value for all participants but also fosters trust and cooperation essential for addressing shared maritime challenges."

(Top Row, L to R) Meeting with Chief of the Indonesian Navy ADM Dr Muhammad Ali, and Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy ADM Tan Sri (Dr.) Zulhelmy bin Ithnain. (Middle Row, L to R) Meeting with Director of the Naval Aviation Department at the Italian Navy General Staff and Commander of the Italian Fleet Air Arm RADM Giancarlo Ciappina, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet ADM Stephen Koehler and Chief of Timor Leste Navy CDRE Higino Das Neves. (Last Row, L to R) Meeting with Chief of Royal New Zealand Navy RADM Garin Golding, and Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez.

At the sidelines of the 14th Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference, RADM Wat also met with his counterparts and senior naval officials. They discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between our navies.

SWO Seck (First row, third from left) and his counterparts came together to share insights and perspectives at the RAN-organised International Senior Enlisted Leader Introduction and Sharing.

Alongside RADM Wat's participation, Master Chief Navy SWO Seck Wai Kong also attended the conference, where he engaged with senior enlisted leaders from other navies to strengthen professional ties and cooperation. At the International Senior Enlisted Leader Introduction and Sharing, SWO Seck spoke on the shared topic of Preparedness and Readiness:

"Preparedness and Readiness are not just as a state we achieve, but as a habit we sustain. For us in the Navy, readiness is not a checkbox but is a way of life, that defines how we train, how we respond, and how we lead."

SWO Seck (left) presented a plaque to Warrant Officer of the Royal Australian Navy WO Andrew Bertoncin (right).

SWO Seck also held a bilateral discussion with Warrant Officer of the Royal Australian Navy WO Andrew Bertoncin, where they exchanged insights on leadership and professional growth opportunities within the enlisted community.

RADM Wat's and SWO Seck's participation at Indo-Pacific Sea Power 2025 reaffirms Singapore's commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships and fostering cooperation to enhance security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.