Singapore and India to Strengthen Defence Relations

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (third from left) co-chaired the 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue with Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh (third from right)

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh co-chaired the 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue (DMD) in New Delhi, India today. Dr Ng also called on President of India Droupadi Murmu.

President Murmu and Dr Ng reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and India, marked recently by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore, where both PM Modi and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also looked forward to celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations next year.

During the DMD, Dr Ng and Mr Singh discussed various initiatives to deepen defence relations which are long-standing and strong. They acknowledged the good progress made in cooperation between the Navies, Air Forces, and Armies of both countries, through exercises such as SIMBEX, Joint Military Training and Ex Agni Warrior respectively. 

In particular, Dr Ng and Mr Singh welcomed the renewal of the Army Bilateral Agreement and discussed ways to enhance interactions and training between both Armies in India and Singapore. Dr Ng and Mr Singh also discussed Singapore’s use of the Chandipur Integrated Test Range for live-firing of weapon systems, and looked forward to the signing of the MOU soon. Dr Ng and Mr Singh also agreed to step up our defence engagements with India in areas such as information sharing, emerging technologies and defence industry cooperation. 

Speaking after the 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ dialogue, Dr Ng highlighted the shared commitment by both Singapore and India to enhance bilateral defence relations. He said, “We had a meeting of minds, as well as the same motivations to deepen our defence cooperation. This is on the back of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Prime Minister Wong and Prime Minister Modi agreed on, and pari passu, together with that, we thought that we would step up our defence cooperation.” Highlighting the importance of our defence relations with India, he said, “Their security is one which is shared, and that provides a very valuable voice and opinions in the regional security architecture, primarily ADMM-Plus… they know that Singapore supports and wishes for India to play a stronger role in the Asia-Pacific region, and I thank them for their positive contributions whether in the ADMM-Plus or the Shangri-La Dialogue.” 

Singapore and India enjoy regular defence interactions in multiple areas, including defence policy dialogues, high-level visits, military exchanges, and defence technology cooperation.

Dr Ng (fourth from left) called on President of India, Droupadi Murmu (third from left) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier today.

Dr Ng laid a wreath at the Indian National War Memorial this morning.

Dr Ng inspected a Guard of Honour at the Manekshaw Centre prior to the 6th India-Singapore Defence Ministers’ Dialogue.