Rajnath Singh meets Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen, discusses bilateral defence ties
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Defence of Singapore Dr Ng Eng Hen co-chaired the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi on October 22 when they acknowledged the deep and long-standing bilateral defence relations based on shared outlook on regional peace, stability and security.
"This meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of India marking a decade of its Act East policy, in which Singapore has played a key role in promoting economic cooperation & cultural ties, and developing strategic connectivity with countries in the region," read a statement issued by the Indian government.
Both Ministers expressed satisfaction at the growing defence cooperation between the two countries.
There have been regular engagements between the Armed Forces of the two countries in recent years.
As 2025 marks 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, both Ministers agreed to further step up defence cooperation and agreed to achieve new feats.
They also agreed to extend bilateral agreement on Joint Military Training Army for the next five years.
Recognising that both nations are natural partners for commencing co-development and co-production of defence equipment, both sides agreed to enhance industry cooperation, including exploring collaboration in niche domains such as automation and Artificial Intelligence.
The two Ministers also decided to take forward the cooperation in emerging areas like cyber security.
Rajnath Singh thanked Dr Ng Eng Hen for Singapore’s support as country coordinator for India in ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting - Plus from 2021 to 2024.
The Defence Minister of Singapore acknowledged that India is a strategic voice for Asia’s peace and stability.
The bilateral relationship was recently elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Singapore.
Prior to the Dialogue, the visiting dignitary was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Tri-Service Guard of Honour.
Ng Eng Hen is on a visit to India from October 21-23, 2024.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Congress defends timing of Bihar CM face announcement, challenges NDA to name its candidate
The Congress, which announced RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the opposition alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Bihar after the filing of the second set of nominations, has maintained that the move was not delayed.
PM Modi urges Bihar voters to remember ‘jungle raj’, calls opposition alliance ‘lathbandhan’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to BJP workers in Bihar to remind voters, especially the younger generation, of the state’s “jungle raj” years, asserting that people will not forget that period for the next hundred years.
Shashi Tharoor rebukes Donald Trump for announcing India’s oil policy decisions
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday slammed Donald Trump for making statements on behalf of India, after the US President claimed that New Delhi would “significantly reduce” imports of Russian oil by the end of the year.
Tejashwi dares NDA to name CM face, calls BJP alliance a ‘thugbandhan’
Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has challenged the NDA to declare its CM face for the and called the BJP-led alliance a ‘thugbandhan’ with no vision or agenda.
Latest News
Congress defends timing of Bihar CM face announcement, challenges NDA to name its candidate
Pakistan-Afghanistan border closures trigger sharp rise in food prices like tomatoes, trade losses mount
Putin calls new US sanctions 'serious but manageable,' says Russia’s economy will withstand pressure
Tripura: Violence erupts in Dhalai district during shutdown; several injured