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Australia and Singapore have strengthened collaborations with the signing of a new economic and critical supplies agreement.
Signed on Monday, 27 July at the Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Adelaide, the Protocol on Economic Resilience and Essential Supplies seeks to ensure energy and supply chains remain secure in the face of potential disruption.
Signed by Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and Minister for Trade Don Farrell, the new protocol has been created under the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which has been in place since 2003 to support bilateral collaboration on critical areas of cooperation.
“Australia’s long-standing friendship and partnership with Singapore is underscored by a deep strategic trust,” Minister Marles said.
“Our militaries have a long history of working together in our region, in support of the security and resilience of the Indo-Pacific.
“Today we are growing our already strong defence partnership even further by strengthening cooperation between our defence forces and our defence industries.”
Singapore delivers 55 per cent of Australia’s petrol and is the nation’s largest fuel supplier, providing aviation and diesel fuel as well.
As part of the new agreement, the Economic Resilience Dialogue has been established and will ensure that key economic and trade issues between the countries can be addressed through a formalised approach.
Defence ties were also reaffirmed within the protocol through the Industrial Base Resiliency Agreement, which aims to promote defence industry cooperation.
“Australia and Singapore have built one of the region’s closest and most trusted partnerships, underpinned by practical cooperation across trade, defence, energy security and economic resilience,” Minister Wong said.
“At a time of increasing global uncertainty, the protocol will help ensure Australia and Singapore can respond together to disruptions and maintain access to the supplies our economies depend on.
“Together, we remain committed to strengthening the rules and institutions that support an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
The agreement is built off the back of the defence cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed between the two nations in October 2025.
The MOU sets out reciprocal access to defence services and facilities, supports regional operations and increases joint training.
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