India and Singapore have reviewed the progress on the implementation of decisions taken during their last Defence Ministers’ dialogue and various other bilateral defence cooperation initiatives.
The 16th India-Singapore Defence Working Group meeting that took place in Singapore on Thursday reviewed the progress, an official release issued here on Friday said.
The meeting, it said, was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, India Amitabh Prasad and Director, Policy Office, Ministry of Defence, Singapore Col Daxson Yap.
“It provided an excellent opportunity to exchange defence perspectives and accelerate the momentum of initiatives covering the entire spectrum of multifaceted bilateral defence engagements as well as the regional security architecture,” the document said.
The deliberations were guided by the latest Joint statement on the roadmap for the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Singapore issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi, it added.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the ongoing defence collaboration and identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially in the field of training, capability building, industry and technology, maritime security and multinational cooperation.
The co-chairs also articulated steps in the direction of emerging areas of cooperation and issues pertaining to global commons.
As 2025 marks 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, both co-chairs agreed to further step up defence cooperation.
The meeting, according to the press release, assumes significance in the backdrop of India’s Act East policy, in which Singapore has played a key role in promoting economic cooperation and cultural ties, and developing strategic connectivity with countries in the region.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Joint Secretary also met Deputy Secretary Policy BG Frederick Choo.
He also visited the Information Fusion Centre and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Cyber Security and Information Centre of Excellence at Changi Naval Base during the visit.