Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen met with Australia Minister for Defence Marise Payne today on the sidelines of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue. During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed the close and long-standing bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Australia, and noted the good progress made in strengthening defence cooperation under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the meeting, Dr Ng thanked Ms Payne for Australia's support for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)'s training in Australia. The Ministers also welcomed the steady progress made in the joint development of training areas and advanced training facilities in Queensland, which will benefit both the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the SAF.

In addition, the Ministers discussed regional and international security developments, such as developments on the Korean Peninsula and terrorism. They reaffirmed the value of key security platforms like the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus and Five Power Defence Arrangements in addressing today's security challenges, as well as welcomed the SAF and ADF's continued joint deployments in the Middle East as part of the Defeat-ISIS Coalition. 

Dr Ng also met Brunei Minister of Defence II Major-General (Rtd) Haji Awang Halbi, Fiji Minister of Defence and National Security Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, and US Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer today.