Introduction

First, let me bid a very good afternoon, Secretary of State to the Minister for the Armed Forces Geneviève Darrieussecq, distinguished ladies and gentlemen from the French and Singapore Air Forces, distinguished guests, leaders of communities around the Cazaux Air Base.  

My wife and I are indeed very honoured to be here today to celebrate with you the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s Advanced Jet Training  in Cazaux Air Base. 

Tracing Back the History

Beautiful day and indeed clear blue skies. Twenty years ago, one hundred servicemen and women from the RSAF, together with their families, arrived in Cazaux. They prepared themselves to live and work in a foreign land nearly half a world away. But, I am sure that residents too in the towns around this air base must have been puzzled by the sudden influx of Asian faces. I know that in the rich history of Cazaux Air Base, more than 100 years, residents here have seen other foreigners come to this air base. Since its creation in 1914, it has not only been used by the French forces and Allied military pilots in World War I, as well as American pilots. But Singaporeans, that is something else. I am sure that even then, some residents here may not have even known where Singapore is. We are a small red dot. You have to go to a map to locate where Singapore is. And after they have located where Singapore is, they must have wondered, what does Singapore have to do with France, why are our pilots training in Cazaux? 

Whatever the reasons, it began this intriguing chapter of relations between our two militaries. And since that day in June of 1998, France has played a crucial role in helping Singapore train pilots to defend Singapore and our airspace and for that, the Singapore Government and the people of Singapore are deeply grateful to the French Government, to your people, to the leaders here, to the residents of Cazaux, as well as communities around Gironde, Gujan-Mestras and La Teste-de-Buch. And I am glad that the leaders of these communities are here. Thank you very much for supporting our RSAF detachment. 
    
When our pilots and their families arrived in this town, they knew that Cazaux was a precious opportunity, and one that could not be wasted. So by April 1999, barely six months after both governments signed the Defence Cooperation and Status of Forces Agreement. It was then signed by Defence Ministers Dr Tony Tan and Monsieur Alain Richard in Paris. Barely six months after, our governments signed this agreement, the RSAF deployed the full Advanced Jet Trainer to Cazaux Air Base. And we brought in 18 A4-SU Super Skyhawk aircraft, and with it 200 RSAF personnel, 140 dependents, included trainer pilots, trainee pilots, maintenance staff, many of the Singapore Technologies staff are here, who also are part of this history. So within six months, the Singapore community here grew much larger.

Importance of Cazaux Air Base

Indeed, what the French Government and its people have offered here is precious to the RSAF. You might ask why. Well, one simple fact will explain why it is so precious. Cazaux Air Base offers an airspace that is 32 times that of the whole of Singapore. It provides our young pilots with sprawling skies to hone our flying skills and build confidence. But more importantly, that they can train alongside highly skilled French pilots allows the RSAF to learn from and peg itself against a world-class air force. 

But today's event is especially meaningful, because this same year the RSAF and 150 Squadron are celebrating their Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary. Twenty years since the RSAF formed its detachment in Cazaux, more than 190 Singaporean pilots have trained in these skies above us until today and 150 Squadron has clocked in more than forty thousand hours of flying training. Quite a remarkable feat. But there is another statistic that is even of greater significance. I said there are 190 pilots trained since the RSAF detachment came. But since they came, up to today, there were 191 new babies born. So for every one pilot, one baby. That is not a bad ratio. Somehow, I think the air, the Arcachon oysters, the French wine make for very fertile ground, for babies if not pilots. 

Recognition

So as we share these successes with pride, I want to acknowledge the pioneers of the Cazaux Detachment from the RSAF and French Air Force – the instructors, engineers, support staff, and the men and women of Cazaux Air Base.

Today I want to thank local communities in Cazaux for your warm welcome towards the Singaporean community. 

Of course, none of these would have been possible without the support of the French Air Force and the Ministry of the Armed Forces, for which we are deeply appreciative. From the offer of Cazaux Air Base, to facilitating the upgrading of the RSAF's flying training system with the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainers, our French hosts have remained steadfast in their support through the years and with your support, we look forward to many more years of cooperation and training in France. 

Broader Bilateral Defence Relationship

The RSAF's presence in Cazaux is a physical testament to the strong and growing ties between our two countries. It is developed on a shared foundation of ideals and values for both our countries built on liberty, equality and fraternity. In two days' time, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will stand alongside President Macron as we witness the flypast of 150 Squadron and SAF troops marching for the French National Day celebrations – it is a very small presence, one M-346 plane and a few troops with our Singapore flag. But it is our simple and deep way of thanking the Government and people of France for your friendship and great help all these years.

Twenty years on, I think we can say that the people of Cazaux and the RSAF families here are no longer strangers. They know each other, they trust each other. Their warm relationship reflects the ties between our two countries. I look forward to deeper and stronger mutual cooperation between both our air forces and our countries in the years to come.

Thank you very much.