Singapore and Indonesia Reaffirm Close and Long-Standing Defence Relations

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosting Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto to breakfast.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto to breakfast this morning. During their meeting, Dr Ng and Mr Prabowo exchanged views on geopolitical developments and discussed ways that Singapore and Indonesia could work together for the peace and security of the region.

Mr Prabowo is in Singapore to attend the 2023 Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat held on 16 March 2023, during which Dr Ng and Mr Prabowo co-signed a Joint Update on Defence Cooperation that highlights key bilateral defence interactions in the past year and affirms both countries' commitment to advance cooperation on key areas of mutual interest.

Singapore and Indonesia have close and long-standing defence ties. Both defence establishments have enjoyed decades of close friendship and continue to deepen their cooperation to tackle common regional security challenges. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) interact regularly through military exercises, high-level visits, professional exchanges, and cross-attendance of courses across the three Services and at all levels. These interactions serve to reinforce mutual understanding, strengthen friendships and enhance the cooperation between the two defence establishments and Armed Forces.

Dr Ng and Mr Prabowo exchanging the signed Joint Update on Defence Cooperation during the 2023 Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat. (Photo credit: Ministry of Communications and Information)