India, Singapore hold 16th defence working group meeting

New Delhi, Sep 5: The 16th India-Singapore Defence Working Group (DWG) meeting was held in Singapore on September 4, 2025, co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, India, and Colonel Daxson Yap, Director, Policy Office, Ministry of Defence, Singapore.

The two sides reviewed progress on decisions taken at the last Defence Ministers’ Dialogue and assessed ongoing bilateral defence initiatives.

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in training, capability building, defence industry and technology, maritime security, and multinational engagement. New areas of collaboration, including emerging security domains and global commons, were also explored.

The talks were guided by the recently issued Joint Statement on the Roadmap for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in New Delhi. Both sides welcomed the steady progress in defence collaboration and agreed to expand it further, particularly as 2025 marks 60 years of diplomatic ties.

The meeting carries added significance against the backdrop of India’s Act East policy, in which Singapore plays a pivotal role in advancing economic, cultural, and strategic connectivity across the region. During his visit, Prasad also met Deputy Secretary Policy BG Fredrick Choo and visited the Information Fusion Centre and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence at Changi Naval Base.