Senior Minister of State for Defence visits Abu Dhabi for International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2017

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman is in Abu Dhabi to attend the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) from 17 to 21 February 2017. IDEX is held biennially under the patronage of the President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Force His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. IDEX is the largest international defence and maritime security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa region and is attended by representatives from the defence industry, governments and armed forces from around the world.

On the sidelines of the IDEX, Dr Maliki had meetings with Minister of State for Defence Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs His Excellency Dr Anwar Gargash, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs His Excellency Fares Al Mazrouei. Both sides reaffirmed the warm and friendly relationship between Singapore and the UAE. Dr Maliki also expressed Singapore's appreciation for the UAE's support for the Singapore Armed Forces' deployments to the Middle East, as part of the multinational coalition to counter Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Dr Maliki also had a bilateral meeting with Indian Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre. Both sides reaffirmed the warm and longstanding defence relationship between Singapore and India, and discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation. Dr Maliki also expressed appreciation for India's strong support for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in India, under the ambit of the Air Force and Army Bilateral Agreements.   

While in Abu Dhabi, Dr Maliki laid a wreath at the Wahat Al Karama Memorial. Inaugurated in 2016, the memorial pays tribute to Emiratis who gave their lives in service of their nation.