Fact Sheet: 50 Years of Singapore-Brunei Darussalam Defence Relations

Background 

Singapore and Brunei Darussalam are commemorating the Golden Jubilee of defence relations in 2026. This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate five decades of close friendship and cooperation between both defence establishments, while building on these strong foundations for the next generation. Throughout this anniversary year, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) have conducted and will continue to hold a series of activities. This includes pursuing new initiatives that reflect the breadth, depth and mutual value of bilateral defence cooperation. 

Five Decades of Defence Cooperation 

Foundations of Defence Relations. Brunei Darussalam’s and Singapore’s armed forces were established within a few years of each other — the RBAF in 1961 and the SAF in 1965. Formal defence relations were established in 1976, and generations of SAF servicemen have since been training in Brunei. From the early years, Brunei Darussalam’s support for SAF training was complemented by regular training exchanges and close professional ties between both Armed Forces. The relationship was also underpinned by close personal ties. Singapore's first Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (Retired) Winston Choo had trained alongside many RBAF’s leaders at the Federation Military College in Port Dickson, including Major General (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad bin Awang Haji Daud, the first Commander of the RBAF; Major General (Retired) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Basit bin Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong, the first Deputy Minister of Defence of Brunei Darussalam; and Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Awang Damit, the second Commander of the RBAF. These early professional and personal ties laid strong foundations for bilateral defence relations and have endured across generations. 

Growth in Breadth and Depth. Defence cooperation has grown steadily in scale from foundational training exchanges to longstanding bilateral exercises involving the two countries' land, naval and air forces. The SAF and RBAF now train and interact regularly through bilateral exercises and exchanges. Cooperation has also further expanded to include senior leadership engagements, defence technology cooperation and collaboration in emerging security domains. Both countries also work closely in support of regional and international security. RBAF and SAF personnel deployed alongside each other following the Nepal earthquake in 2015, and both countries co-hosted the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise in 2016. 

Key Activities in the Golden Jubilee Year 

50th Anniversary Commemorative Opening Dinner. The year-long commemorations began with the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner hosted by Singapore in Brunei Darussalam in January 2026, bringing together current and former defence leaders from both countries. The SG-BRU 50 commemorative logo was jointly launched by Chief of Defence Force Vice-Admiral Aaron Beng and Commander of the RBAF Major-General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan. 

Bilateral Exercises. The SAF and RBAF marked the Golden Jubilee through the conduct of their bilateral exercises in the lead-up to the Joint Parade (JP), bringing together all three Services for Exercise Maju Bersama, Exercise Rintis Bersama, Exercise Airguard and Exercise Pelican. These exercises allow both Armed Forces to train together, strengthen interoperability and deepen professional ties. The anniversary year also saw both Air Forces expand their cooperation with the launch of Exercise Vanguard, a new overarching bilateral exercise framework comprising Exercise Airguard, the Air Forces’ flagship bilateral exercise on Ground-Based Air Defence training, and two new exercises: Exercise Wing Guard and Exercise Skyguard, covering helicopter and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) training respectively. 

Policy and Leadership Engagements. The 11th Singapore-Brunei Darussalam Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) was held in Singapore in February 2026, where both defence establishments reviewed joint initiatives, exchanged views on the regional and international security environment, and identified opportunities for future cooperation. Senior leadership engagements also continued throughout the anniversary year, including introductory visits by senior defence and military leaders from both countries. Notably, Singapore hosted all three RBAF Service Chiefs for their introductory visits. 

Joint Parade (JP). The SAF and RBAF commemorated the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Brunei Darussalam defence relations with the JP at Muara Naval Base, Brunei Darussalam, on 10 October 2026. The JP brought together 256 personnel and operational assets from the land, naval and air forces of both Armed Forces, and was attended by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah. Following the parade, PM Wong and His Majesty jointly launched and toured a Commemorative Gallery showcasing key milestones and people-to-people ties in the bilateral defence relationship over the past five decades. 

Cross-Attendance of Courses. The SAF and RBAF also continued to cross-attend professional military courses in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam respectively. SAF officers attend the Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy RBAF in Brunei Darussalam, while RBAF officers attend the Command and Staff Course at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College in Singapore. These exchanges allow personnel from both armed forces to learn alongside one another and forge lasting professional and personal ties. 

Other Areas of Bilateral Defence Cooperation. Singapore and Brunei Darussalam also continued to advance practical cooperation in other areas during the anniversary year.

1. Binturan Bridge. The Singapore Army and the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Binturan Bridge in Brunei Darussalam on 30 September 2026. Jointly developed by both Armies, the new bridge will provide enduring infrastructure to support their training needs and reflects the longstanding cooperation between both Armies and their continued investment in the training relationship.

2. Underwater Demolition Range. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) opened the Underwater Demolition Range (UWDR) on 8 October 2026. Jointly developed by both Navies, the UWDR supports the RBN's development of its naval diving capabilities and provides further opportunities for divers from both Navies to train together and exchange expertise. The initiative builds on the close and longstanding cooperation between the RSN and RBN and expands Navy-to-Navy cooperation into a new area. 

Looking Ahead 

The Golden Jubilee commemorations will culminate in the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Closing Dinner in Singapore on 21 November 2026, hosted by Brunei Darussalam. As both countries look beyond the Golden Jubilee, the SAF and RBAF will continue to build on five decades of mutual trust and close cooperation, identify new areas where both sides can bring value to each other, and create opportunities for successive generations of personnel to further strengthen their ties. These efforts will help ensure that the Singapore-Brunei Darussalam defence relationship remains strong, substantive and relevant for generations to come.

More Resources

Singapore and Brunei Darussalam Celebrate Golden Jubilee of Defence Relations at Joint Parade