Air Chief Marshal Punpakdee Pattanakul was conferred the Meritorious Service Medal during his official visit from 27–28 August 2025, marking a new chapter in bilateral defence cooperation.
Singapore, 28 August 2025 – Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Punpakdee Pattanakul, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, concluded an official visit to Singapore from 27 to 28 August 2025, during which he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Republic of Singapore.
The decoration was presented at a ceremony on 28 August, attended by H.E. Ureerat Chareontoh, Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, and witnessed by Singapore’s Minister for Defence and Minister-in-Charge of Public Services, Mr Chan Chun Sing. The award was conferred on behalf of the President of Singapore, recognising ACM Punpakdee’s contributions to advancing defence relations between the two countries.
During his visit, ACM Punpakdee also held discussions with Mr Chan on areas of bilateral and regional cooperation. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening defence collaboration to meet evolving security challenges. A key focus was the confirmation of Nam Phong Air Force Base in Thailand as the venue for the inaugural ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise in 2026. This initiative is expected to bolster coordination among ASEAN air forces in responding to regional humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
In addition, the Royal Thai Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force signed the Second Amendment to the Annex Agreement on mutual support in training and logistics for Singapore’s unilateral flying exercises in Thailand. This agreement reflects the ongoing commitment of both air forces to deepening cooperation in training, logistics, and operational readiness.
The visit reaffirmed the longstanding defence partnership between Thailand and Singapore, underscoring the shared goal of contributing to peace, stability, and resilience in the region.
Source: Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore
