Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders

The Star

5 days ago

Vietnam's Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang (on the red carpet, left), welcoming Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing in Hanoi on July 22. - MINDEF
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Vietnam will strengthen their defence relationship and seek more regular dialogue between their leaders, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on July 22.
This is as both countries aim to achieve concrete outcomes from the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) earlier in 2025, Chan said at the conclusion of a visit to Hanoi.
During his visit, Chan had called on Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The two leaders reaffirmed the warm and friendly bilateral relationship between Singapore and Vietnam, and discussed various initiatives under the CSP, said Mindef in a statement.
Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, said he and Chinh discussed several areas of potential cooperation, such as in renewable energy, data and finance, and leadership development.
At the strategic level, more dialogue between leaders of both sides is important, given the turbulent global economic and security situation, he added.
'We talked about setting up more regular dialogues between the public services of both sides, and how we can use such occasions to talk about the emerging challenges that both of us face,' Chan said.
In March 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Communist Party of Vietnam general secretary To Lam announced that Singapore and Vietnam had elevated bilateral ties to a wide-ranging CSP, with both sides committing to deepen cooperation in areas such as security, sustainability and the digital economy.
The CSP with Vietnam is Singapore's first with an Asean member state, reflecting both countries' shared commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual benefit and which can create growth opportunities, said Mindef.
Singapore's cooperation with Vietnam also supports regional initiatives like the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the Asean Power Grid, which will strengthen the economy and resilience of Singapore, Vietnam and Asean, the ministry added.
On his trip, Chan also met his counterpart, Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, and they exchanged views on geopolitical developments.
Given that security challenges will increasingly be networked, Chan said he and General Giang discussed ways for the two armed forces to work together to counter such threats.
The two defence ministers also agreed to step up military-to-military interactions through high-level visits, bilateral dialogues, cross-attendance of courses, and professional exchanges.
'We will also continue to work together at the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus to uphold an open and inclusive regional security architecture,' said Chan.
Chan was joined at the meetings by Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo.
The two defence ministers also agreed to step up military-to-military interactions through high-level visits, bilateral dialogues, cross-attendance of courses, and professional exchanges. - The Straits Times/ANN