Representatives from various Asia-Pacific nations gather

Representatives from various Asia-Pacific nations gather for a multinational group photo during the Association of Southeast Nations Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise hosted by Brunei Darussalam June 12 at Berakas, Brunei. More than 1,800 multinational personnel from 18 Asia-Pacific nations are participating in the ASEAN exercise, which provides a platform for regional partner nations to address shared security challenges, strengthen defense cooperation, enhance interoperability and promote stability in the region. ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Non-ASEAN countries include Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the U.S. The exercise is scheduled from June 16 to 20. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Allison Bak/Released)