What happened?
On September 4, 2025, India and Singapore held the 16th Defence Working Group (DWG) meeting in Singapore, co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Colonel Daxson Yap, Director of the Policy Office in Singapore’s Ministry of Defence. The meeting reviewed progress on decisions from the last Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, assessed ongoing initiatives, and explored new areas of cooperation. Both sides expressed satisfaction with collaboration in training, capability development, defence technology, maritime security, and multinational initiatives, while also discussing regional security and the global commons.
Why it matters to India
The dialogue carries added significance as India and Singapore mark 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2025. It reinforces Singapore’s role in India’s Act East policy, which emphasises strategic and economic connectivity in the region. The discussions, guided by the roadmap agreed upon by Prime Ministers Modi and Wong earlier this year, strengthen India’s regional partnerships and open new avenues in defence engagement, technology, and security cooperation.