LONDON: The global community must come together, showing a firmness of conviction and belief, strengthening bonds of unity and tolerance against the wishes of religious fascists who wish to divide and destroy.
This was the crux of the speech of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister today represented Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the 152nd Sovereign’s Parade, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was received by the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Major General Paul Nanson.
After inspecting the parade, His Royal Highness delivered the keynote address.
Following his speech, His Royal Highness awarded the top Officer Cadets with the Sword of Honour, the Overseas Sword and the Queen’s Medal.
His Royal Highness, then, met the commissioning officers, praised them for their significant achievements throughout their time at RMAS Sandhurst, and wished them further success in their military careers.
This year’s commissioning platoon included Officer Cadet Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Officer Cadet Hamad Isa Al Rumaihi from the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“It is indeed a great honour to stand before you, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, at today’s Sovereign’s Parade.
Congratulations to you all. Completing the Commissioning Course is a great achievement. I know how much hard work today represents and having been here as a parent, I know also how much your accomplishment means to your families and friends, and how proud of you they are.
Many of our officers in the Bahrain Defence Force trained at Sandhurst, including my father, His Majesty King Hamad. We are proud of this long tradition. It underlines the very strong bonds established between us two hundred years ago. These long-lasting ties across security, economy and society are continually strengthened, through an active partnership between our two nations.
Today marks a vitally important day for you all as you leave Sandhurst and embark on your careers in changing times. You are stepping forward on a path of significant importance, as leaders at the front-end of new conflicts that offer profound challenges to our modern societies.
As military officers, and defenders our nations and our values, you will take on great responsibility. Where you fight, you will fight to secure a greater peace. You will operate in uniquely testing circumstances, often against those pursuing an agenda of hatred, discord and destruction. And, you will not lose your humanity in the face of this challenge.
The deep capacity for humanity is a defining characteristic of officers trained at Sandhurst, even in the most testing of circumstances. It is a vital underpinning of your success.
You will make difficult judgments, often with incomplete information. Those judgments will have profound effects on those around you: those you lead; those who are fighting you; and the many civilians who are at risk in modern conflicts. You will remember that you are dealing with human beings, and with human lives.
You will strike hard when you need to. But treat those under your command, as well as those under your protection – regardless of race, creed or colour – with consideration and dignity.
That responsibility, that leadership and that judgement will be essential in helping you face and address the threats of today.
Increasingly, addressing those threats, will involve us fighting asymmetric wars, alongside the armies of failed and faltering states. Fighting terrorist insurgent groups. And fighting micro constituencies of fanatics and the disenfranchised – for whom religious conflict itself is the primary purpose.
By way of example, the ruptures within the modern-day order of the Middle East have created a multitude of uncertain consequences. The breakdown of many of the region’s state paradigms has served to enhance and magnify the power of warped ideologies. These conflicts and the ideologies they ultimately empower, have led to the largest migration crisis in modern times, threatening not only the values, but the very social fabric of Europe.
The global battle ahead, is therefore a clash of pluralism and respect for individual identity, versus those who pursue fascist ideologies. Ideologies which are exclusionary, sectarian and increasingly masked by a religious veneer.
But rest assured. You are prepared for the task at hand. Your training is renowned for its excellence. And your Directing Staff are to be applauded for the strength of training you have received.
That training has begun here, but will continue throughout your careers. You will learn from the situations you face. You will learn from the peace you preserve and defend. And also from the peace you will sometimes have to fight to win.
But you will also continue to learn, most importantly, from those fighting for you and those fighting alongside you in different uniforms. While they will seek your guidance and expertise, they will also be in a position to guide and teach you in return.
The steadfast application of your leadership code; to principles of courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment – will be vital. Not only in winning the immediate military battles you will face, but also contributing to the successful conclusion of the ideological war in which we are all engaged.
I wish you all good fortune as you meet your challenges head on. You have highly rewarding careers ahead of you. You have already shown that you are capable of great success and I wish you the very best in your future endeavours.
With officers of your calibre operating at the frontline, I believe strongly that our chances of securing greater peace in the world can only be enhanced.