Singapore and Australia reinforced their long-standing defence relationship with the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Defence Cooperation, marking a new chapter in their strategic partnership
CANBERRA, 8 October 2025 – Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr Richard Marles signed the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Enhanced Defence Cooperation (eDC MOU) yesterday at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra. The signing took place during Mr Chan’s official visit to Australia, ahead of the 10th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting, where Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 (CSP 2.0).
The eDC MOU provided a comprehensive and forward-looking framework to deepen defence collaboration between both countries. Building on the progress achieved under the 2015 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the new agreement enabled a range of mutually beneficial initiatives under the CSP 2.0. These include enhancing reciprocal access to defence facilities in both Singapore and Australia, strengthening cooperation in defence science and technology, logistics, and supply chain resilience, and expanding professional exchanges and training opportunities between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The signing of the eDC MOU also reflected the evolution of Singapore-Australia defence cooperation in response to emerging global and regional challenges. As strategic partners with shared interests in regional stability, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining an open, rules-based order and to working together in developing future-oriented defence capabilities. The agreement replaced the original Memorandum of Understanding concerning Defence Cooperation signed in 2008, setting an even higher benchmark for bilateral collaboration.
Mr Chan highlighted that 2025 was a milestone year for the Singapore-Australia defence relationship, marking 50 years since the SAF first began training in Australia and the 35th anniversary of Exercise Wallaby — the SAF’s largest overseas exercise. He noted that decades of successful cooperation had cultivated deep trust and understanding between the two defence establishments. “The signing of the eDC MOU is a historic opportunity for both sides to build on this trust, and deliver a step change in our defence and strategic cooperation while breaking new ground in emerging areas,” he said.
Mr Chan’s visit underscored the close and enduring nature of the bilateral defence partnership, which extends beyond training to encompass technological innovation, people-to-people ties, and shared operational experience. Both defence establishments also engage in multilateral cooperation through frameworks such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements, further reinforcing regional security and collaboration.
The SAF and ADF have a long history of working closely together through high-level visits, professional exchanges, and joint exercises. These engagements have strengthened interoperability, enhanced mutual understanding, and deepened the institutional and personal bonds between the two forces. Mr Chan was in Canberra as part of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s delegation for his introductory visit to Australia from 6 to 8 October 2025.
Source : MINDEF
