The Hon Richard Marles MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence

Australia and Singapore have agreed to upgrade our defence and security partnership, as part of the enhanced bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding – providing an ambitious framework for deepening defence cooperation.

Through the MOU, Australia and Singapore will:

• Enhance our respective militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore, including expanded access for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Singapore and increased access for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to training areas in Australia;
• Deepen and increase defence science and technology collaboration;
• Enhance collaboration on defence supply chains and logistics ecosystems; and
• Expand professional defence exchanges between both militaries.

This week’s MOU builds on and supersedes the 2008 Memorandum of Understanding concerning Defence Cooperation.

Australia has supported rotations of SAF personnel training in Australia for over 30 years, and Singapore has provided longstanding access for the ADF personnel, ships and aircraft operating in Southeast Asia. Both defence establishments also engage in multilateral cooperation through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

Further information on the MOU is available here: Fact Sheet: Australia-Singapore Memorandum of Understanding concerning Enhanced Defence Cooperation | Ministry of Defence

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Australia is proud to have supported the rotational training of Singapore Armed Forces personnel in Australia for over three decades.

“We welcome the advancement of our defence and security cooperation under CSP 2.0, including reciprocal access to military facilities.

“Australia appreciates Singapore’s enduring support for our people and assets operating throughout Southeast Asia.”