Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad attends the 21st Manama Dialogue in Bahrain

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad delivering a speech at the 6th Plenary Session on Maritime Security as a Regional and Global Responsibility at the 21st Manama Dialogue.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad attending a plenary session at the 21st Manama Dialogue.

Mr Zaqy (left) meeting with Commander of the United States Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper (right).

Mr Zaqy hosting the SG60 Reception in Manama for Singaporeans living in Bahrain and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, to mark 60 years of Singapore’s independence.

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad attended the 21st Manama Dialogue in Bahrain from 31 October to 2 November 2025. Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the annual dialogue is a key security forum for senior defence, security and foreign affairs officials from around the world to discuss security challenges in the Middle East and beyond. Singapore has been attending the Manama Dialogue since its inception in 2004.

While in Bahrain, Mr Zaqy attended a ministerial lunch that was hosted by Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. He also met with Bahrain’s Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force His Excellency Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Minister of Defence Affairs His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi. They reaffirmed the warm defence relations between Singapore and Bahrain.

Speaking at the sixth plenary session on the topic of "Maritime Security as a Regional and Global Responsibility", Mr Zaqy emphasised the evolving nature of maritime security threats and the importance of countries working together to address these challenges. He said, “From Asia to the Middle East, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, our futures are literally tied by water. Our waters connect us. If we treat these waters as a shared trust, we can ensure that the next generation inherits not contested seas, but a thriving and prosperous maritime environment.”

On the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue, Mr Zaqy also separately met with the Commander of the United States Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper; Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr Khalid bin Hussein Al Biyari; and Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi. During their meetings, they exchanged views on regional and global security developments and reaffirmed bilateral defence relations.

Mr Zaqy also hosted a SG60 Reception for overseas Singaporeans based in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province yesterday, in celebration of Singapore’s milestone year.

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Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad at the Manama Dialogue 2025 on 2 Nov 2025 in Bahrain