Singapore and India Reaffirm Defence Relations Through 14th Defence Policy Dialogue

Director of Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Coordination Centre, Colonel James Liew showing a signed copy of the HADR Implementing Arrangements with Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Heng Kee.

Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Heng Kee and India's Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar co-chaired the 14th Singapore-India Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) via video conferencing this afternoon. During the DPD, Mr Chan and Dr Kumar expressed their commitment to enhance defence cooperation through greater operational collaboration between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Indian Armed Forces. Both sides also exchanged views on the progress of regional security cooperation under the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus framework.

On the sidelines of the DPD, Mr Chan and Dr Kumar witnessed the signing of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Implementing Arrangements between Singapore's Director of the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC), Colonel James Liew, and India's Integrated Defence Staff's Colonel (Operations Logistics), Colonel Nitin Sehgal. The signing of the Implementing Arrangements follows the exchange of a Letter of Intent during the 4th Defence Ministers' Dialogue (DMD) in 2019 to deepen HADR cooperation, and underscores a shared commitment between both countries to further HADR cooperation and coordination. Under this agreement, Singapore's Changi RHCC and India's Integrated Defence Staff will explore closer operational collaboration in response to disasters, as well as capacity-building activities of mutual interest.

Inaugurated since 2004, the Singapore-India DPD serves as a regular forum for both countries to discuss areas of defence cooperation and exchange views on strategic issues and geopolitical developments.

Singapore and India share strong and long-standing defence relations, underpinned by the revised India-Singapore Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015 and Bilateral Agreements between the SAF and the Indian Armed Forces. Besides established dialogues such as the DMD and DPD, both defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level visits, exercises, defence technology cooperation and other professional exchanges.

Colonel Liew (top right), signing the HADR Implementing Arrangements with India’s Integrated Defence Staff’s Colonel (Operations Logistics), Colonel Nitin Sehgal (bottom left), witnessed by Mr Chan and India’s Defence Secretary, Dr Ajay Kumar.

Mr Chan and Dr Kumar co-chairing the 14th Singapore-India Defence Policy Dialogue via video-conferencing.