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Australia and Singapore have signed a new memorandum of understanding regarding enhanced defence cooperation.
The agreement was signed earlier this week during a meeting between Singaporean Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles at Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
The agreement reportedly builds on the successful joint development of the expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area by enhancing both militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore. This includes expanded access for the Australian Defence Force in Singapore in support of its regional presence and increased access for the Singapore Armed Forces to training areas in Australia, including at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
The signing took place ahead of the 10th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting, where Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0.
The eDC MOU provides an ambitious framework for deepening defence cooperation between Singapore and Australia.
It builds on the significant progress achieved under the 2015 CSP and enables a range of mutually beneficial defence initiatives under the CSP 2.0.
Both countries agreed to enhance their respective militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore, step up cooperation in defence science and technology, logistics, and supply chains, and expand professional exchanges between both militaries.
The eDC MOU supersedes the original memorandum of understanding concerning defence cooperation signed in 2008.
“2025 is a special year for the Australia–Singapore defence relationship. It marks 50 years since the Singapore Armed Forces first started training in Australia, and the 35th anniversary of Exercise Wallaby, the SAF’s largest overseas training exercise,” Minister Chan said.
“The experience of close and successful cooperation over the decades has generated a deep reservoir of trust between both defence establishments.
“The signing of the eDC MOU is a historic opportunity for both sides to build on this trust and deliver a step change in our defence and strategic cooperation while breaking new ground in emerging areas.”
Minister Chan’s visit underscores the close and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and Australia.
Both defence establishments also engage in multilateral cooperation through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
The SAF and the Australian Defence Force interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral training exercises, high-level visits, professional exchanges and cross attendance of courses.
