Singapore and Indonesia discuss developing military training facilities

The Star

3 days ago

Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing (right) speaking with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Indonesia on Aug 5. - CHAN CHUNG SING/FACEBOOK
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities in West Kalimantan, Baturaja and the Siabu Air Weapons Range, which will give both militaries more opportunities to learn from each other, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.
Besides a possible project in Baturaja in South Sumatra for army training and another in Pekanbaru in Riau for air force training, Singapore's special forces will carry out inaugural training in West Kalimantan in the coming months 'to try out the facilities in the area', he said on Wednesday (Aug 6).
The two countries' air forces will also be commencing joint fighter air patrols soon, Chan said in a Facebook post on Aug 5, following his meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Chan was in Indonesia for a two-day introductory visit that ended on Aug 6.
At his meeting with Sjafrie, the two ministers reaffirmed the strong and longstanding bilateral defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia.
On Aug 5, Chan also delivered a lecture to 250 future Indonesian leaders at Indonesia's National Resilience Institute.
He noted that Singapore and Indonesia have many things in common, including a shared interest in upholding the international rule of law and in building their respective national identities on their multiracial, multi-religious backgrounds.
Beyond strong economic ties – Singapore is Indonesia's largest investor, and Indonesia is also one of the Republic's top trading partners – he noted the long history of security cooperation between the two countries, with their first bilateral exercise, Exercise Eagle Indopura, conducted in 1974.
There are now regular exercises between the armies, navies, air forces and special forces of both sides, as well as joint naval and air patrols such as the Malacca Straits Patrol launched in 2004, the Coordinated Patrol Singapore-Indonesia launched in 2023 between the navies, and the upcoming Singapore-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol between the two air forces, he noted.
The latest Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) is yet another example of both sides constantly looking for new opportunities to work together, added Chan.
The DCA, which was signed in 2007 and took effect in 2024, clarifies arrangements for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in Indonesian waters and airspace, while respecting Indonesia's sovereignty over its territory and preserving Singapore's rights.
The DCA and its implementation arrangement between both countries' armed forces will remain in force for 25 years.
At the lecture, Chan urged the two countries to continue to nurture mutual trust and cooperation between peoples from both sides, so that Singapore and Indonesia can continue to build on their strengths and complement each other for mutual growth.
'Singapore stands ready to partner Indonesia in the next bound of growth,' said Chan, who was a military attache in Indonesia more than 20 years ago.
'We are constantly looking for opportunities to strengthen our relationship with Indonesia, to look for win-win projects that we can work with you on.'
On Aug 6, Chan met Indonesia's Vice-Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus, and the pair exchanged views on how both countries can further cooperation in the security sector.
They also discussed ways to deepen mutual understanding and readiness through professional and people-to-people exchanges, said Mindef in a statement.
Chan said at the end of his trip that his conversations with his Indonesian counterparts made clear that many challenges faced by both Singapore and Indonesia are similar, and that the two countries are exploring collaboration in cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
'Many of them are common challenges that we need to overcome together, especially in a world that is much more uncertain at this point in time,' he said. - The Straits Times/ANN