To enhance co-production of defence equipment, explore collaboration in automation and Artificial Intelligence and achieve new feats in defence cooperation and emerging areas like cyber security topped the agenda of the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi on October 22, 2024.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defence of Singapore Dr Ng Eng Hen co-chaired the meet during which the two ministers acknowledged the deep and long-standing bilateral defence relations based on shared outlook on regional peace, stability and security.
This meeting is also being seen as a crucial step in the wake of India completing a decade of its Act East policy, wherein Singapore has played a significant role towards promoting economic cooperation, cultural ties and developing strategic connectivity with countries in the region.
In the recent years, there have been regular engagements between the armed forces India and Singapore. During the ministerial dialogue both countries also expressed satisfaction at the growing defence cooperation between them.
While Rajnath Singh thanked Dr Ng Eng Hen for Singapore’s support as country coordinator for India in ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting from 2021 to 2024, the Singaporean Defence Minister also acknowledged that India is a strategic voice for Asia’s peace and stability.
Dr Ng Eng Hen also called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan . Welcoming Dr Hen to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that India and Singapore have a rich history of bilateral cooperation. She further noted that the relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and congratulated Singapore for successfully co-hosting the maiden ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise.
Conveying her wishes to the armed forces of both sides for the upcoming series of joint exercises, the president also noted the need for closer collaboration on defense related research and development and in the field of technological advancements between both the countries.
Dr Ng Eng Hen is on a visit to India from October 21 to 23, 2024. Prior to the dialogue, he was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Tri-Service Guard of Honour. Earlier, the Singaporean Defence Minister laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial, New Delhi.
As 2025 marks 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, both Ministers not only agreed to further step up defence cooperation but also agreed to extend bilateral agreement on Joint Military Training Army for the next five years.
