India-Singapore set to deepen military ties

Both countries are on track to renew pact on army and exchange of

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng hen said Singapore and India are looking at enhanced military exchanges and are on their way to renew a bilateral agreement that continued training exercises and professional exchanges between their armies.

Ng, who is here on a two-day visit, held talks with Indian Defense Minister a. k. Antony and President Pranab Mukherjee met yesterday. He also met national security advisor Shivshankar Menon.

"We want to see a broadening and deepening of the military-to-military exchanges. It fits our perception of how important this relationship between Singapore and India, "said Ng, who described the delegation-level talks as" very warm and cordial ".

Antony furthermore wish for a common goal-to see the three services even more interaction, he said. "We are looking for concrete ways, deliverables, things we can do. Minister Antony expressed his wish that our three services even more interaction and I fully agree with him, "said Ng.

A release of the Ministry of Defence said the two Indian sides had decided to hold defence ministerial meetings regularly to exchange views on common security problems, among other issues.

Defence ties between Singapore and India have deepened since the two countries signed a defence cooperation agreement in 2003 and began regular bilateral military exercises and exchanges. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during the visit both Governments in July renewed an agreement that the Republic of Singapore Air Force to continue joint military training Kalaikunda Air Force Station for five years. A bilateral agreement between the armies of both countries for joint training and exercises for renewal next year.

Ng said that Antony assured him that the renewal "no problem should be".

"It helps us understand how we work and learn from each other...," he said of the joint training and exercises.

The ministers of defence of the two also covered a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including Afghanistan and tensions over overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Ng said: "We hope there will be more dialogue, and a step forward and a movement away from the current trajectory."

His introductory visit to India is a bustling, during which he laid a wreath at India Gate and inspected a guard of honor.

India and Singapore have close economic and security ties since Singapore India's move to a full dialogue partner of Asean defended in the 1990s. Coming from the commemorative Asean summit-India to their 20th anniversary Ng again called India in Asean to be more active.

"We hope that India will step forward and intensify," he said.