Indian Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff Makes Introductory Visit to Singapore

India's Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral (ADM) Sunil Lanba called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) this morning. ADM Lanba, who is in Singapore for an introductory visit from 14 to 18 May 2017, also called on Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Perry Lim earlier today and Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han yesterday. During the calls, both sides reaffirmed the strong ties between the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indian Armed Forces across all three Services. 

As part of his visit, ADM Lanba attended the International Maritime Review (IMR) hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) on 15 May, where 28 warships from 20 countries gathered to celebrate the RSN's Golden Jubilee. ADM Lanba also attended the opening ceremony of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and the opening ceremony of the International Maritime Security Conference at the CEC today. 

On 17 May, ADM Lanba will visit the RSN's Changi Command and Control Centre at Changi Naval Base, where he will receive a brief on the Information Fusion Centre, Maritime Security and Submarine Operational Safety. He will also visit the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre to observe the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise, and visit the Indian warships, INS Sahyadri and INS Karmorta, participating in the IMR. Additionally, ADM Lanba will address students from the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College when he visits SAFTI Military Institute in the afternoon. On 18 May, ADM Lanba will visit the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Training School, where he will receive a brief on the RSAF's UAV training.

ADM Lanba's introductory visit underscores the warm and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and India, strengthened by the revised Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015 as well as the Air Force and Army Bilateral Agreements concluded in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Both armed forces also interact regularly through high-level visits, dialogues, joint military training, courses and other professional exchanges.