Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Singapore’s Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen co-chaired the sixth Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, enhancing defence cooperation between the two nations
Singapore, 23 October 2024 – Minister of Defence of India, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Singapore’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Ng Eng Hen, successfully co-chaired the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in New Delhi. The meeting aimed to strengthen defence cooperation and facilitate discussions on regional and global issues of mutual interest. This dialogue marks a significant milestone in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore.
During their discussions, both leaders explored new initiatives to deepen defence relations, which have become a crucial component of their collaboration. They reviewed the diverse engagements between the armed forces, including military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity-building efforts, training programmes, and cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations. These efforts highlight the commitment of both nations to enhance their military-to-military ties.
Singapore is recognized as a vital partner in India’s Act East Policy and plays an essential role in the Indo-Pacific vision. The defence and security partnership between India and Singapore contributes significantly to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The Singaporean Defence Minister’s visit to India from October 21-23, 2024, underscores the ongoing prioritisation of strengthening defence ties.
In January 2021, the fifth edition of the Defence Ministers’ Dialogue took place via virtual teleconference, emphasising both countries’ commitment to enhancing defence relations. During this recent meeting, President Droupadi Murmu expressed India’s support for the initiatives proposed at the Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. Additionally, Singapore’s High Commissioner, Mr. Simon Wong, conveyed an invitation from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam for President Murmu to visit Singapore next year to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Concluding the sixth Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, Minister Shri Rajnath Singh and Dr. Ng Eng Hen discussed plans to increase professional exchanges across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as enhancing cooperation in information sharing, emerging technologies, and the defence industry. These initiatives align with the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed upon by Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong and Narendra Modi.
Source: High Commission of India in Singapore
