Reviewing Past Decisions and Strengthening Future Ties
The meeting reviewed the progress on decisions made during the previous Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. Both sides assessed the ongoing initiatives and agreed to accelerate efforts across training, capability building, defence industry collaboration, maritime security, and multinational cooperation. Emerging areas such as cyber defence and technology-driven security solutions also featured in the talks.
Deliberations were aligned with the Joint Statement on the Roadmap for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in New Delhi earlier this year. This roadmap provides a structured framework for expanding bilateral cooperation across economic, cultural, and defence domains.
Marking 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations
The year 2025 is significant as India and Singapore celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The co-chairs emphasized the importance of this milestone, agreeing to further elevate defence collaboration as part of broader strategic engagement. The meeting also underscored Singapore’s role in India’s Act East Policy, particularly in strengthening economic and security connectivity across Southeast Asia.
Key Defence Visits and Engagements
On the sidelines of the working group discussions, Shri Amitabh Prasad met with BG Fredrick Choo, Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Defence, Singapore. He also visited the Information Fusion Centre and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Cyber Security and Information Centre of Excellence at Changi Naval Base. These visits highlighted India’s interest in leveraging Singapore’s expertise in maritime domain awareness and cyber security.
Strategic Significance
The DWG meeting comes at a time of evolving regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. For India, Singapore remains a vital partner in ensuring stability, promoting maritime cooperation, and facilitating connectivity within ASEAN. Both nations reiterated their shared commitment to upholding regional peace, security, and a rules-based order.