Singapore and Australia Deepen Defence Cooperation

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 yesterday.

Mr Chan called on Mr Marles at Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia yesterday.

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 Australian Parliament House in Canberra during Mr Chan’s visit to Australia. The signing took place 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 provides an ambitious framework for deepening defence cooperation between Singapore and Australia. It builds on the significant progress achieved under the 2015 CSP and enables a range of mutually beneficial defence initiatives under the CSP 2.0. Both countries agreed to enhance their respective militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore, step up cooperation in defence science and technology, logistics, and supply chains, and expand professional exchanges between both militaries. The eDC MOU supersedes the original Memorandum of Understanding concerning Defence Cooperation signed in 2008.

Mr Chan and Mr Marles welcomed the elevation of defence ties. Mr Chan said, “2025 is a special year for the Australia-Singapore defence relationship. It marks 50 years since the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) first started training in Australia, and the 35th anniversary of Exercise Wallaby – the SAF’s largest overseas training exercise. The experience of close and successful cooperation over the decades has generated a deep reservoir of trust between both 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."

Mr Chan’s visit underscores the close and longstanding bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and Australia. Both defence establishments also engage in multilateral cooperation through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements. The SAF and the Australian Defence Force interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral training exercises, high-level visits, professional exchanges and cross attendance of courses.

Mr Chan was in Canberra, Australia as part of Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Lawrence Wong’s delegation for his introductory visit to Australia from 6 to 8 October 2025.

More Resources

Fact Sheet: Australia-Singapore Memorandum of Understanding concerning Enhanced Defence Cooperation