Singapore eyes deeper defence ties with Australia and Qatar

The high-level defence forums anchor parallel diplomatic meetings across multiple regions.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tackled deeper defence cooperation and regional security in a meeting with the deputy prime ministers of Australia and Qatar in a derense forum in Singapore.

Wong and Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, discussed bilateral relations and regional and global security challenges.

Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo was also in attendance at the same meeting at the Istana, where both leaders discussed cooperation in defence and energy security.

He also expressed appreciation for Qatar’s role in promoting regional stability and facilitating dialogue in the Middle East.

Wong also met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles at the Istana in a separate meeting, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional security developments.

Both leaders focused on defence cooperation, including critical underwater infrastructure and reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore.

They referred to the memorandum of understanding on enhanced defence cooperation signed last year.

The meeting also referenced the upgrade of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced at the 10th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting.

Sheikh Saoud also met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana.

He also met Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam at the Shangri-La Hotel on 29 May.

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