Singapore and Japan Reaffirm Warm and Friendly Defence Relations

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (left) during his meeting with Japan Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya (right) today.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen reviewed a Guard of Honour at the Japan Ministry of Defense earlier today and had a bilateral meeting with Japan Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya.

During the meeting, Dr Ng and Mr Iwaya reaffirmed the warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Japan, and commended the progress of bilateral cooperation since the signing of the Singapore-Japan Memorandum on Defence Exchanges in 2009. The Ministers exchanged views on enhancing bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation and promoting regional security and stability. This is the second time that Dr Ng is meeting Mr Iwaya. Dr Ng first met Mr Iwaya during the 5th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in October 2018.

Dr Ng is on a three-day working visit to Tokyo, Japan, from 20 to 23 May 2019. As part of his visit, he also met Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Kentaro Sonoura, National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Shotaro Yachi and former Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera and exchanged views on the geopolitical environment and regional security.

Dr Ng's visit to Japan underscores the warm and friendly bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Japan. The two defence establishments interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, military staff talks, mutual port visits and cross-attendance of courses and seminars.

Dr Ng (right) reviewing the Guard of Honour with Mr Iwaya (left) at the Japan Ministry of Defense earlier today.