Chan Chun Sing meets Timor-Leste president, foreign defence leaders
SINGAPORE – Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing met with a number of his regional and international counterparts on May 30, where he reaffirmed Singapore's friendly bilateral defence ties with them.
On the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Chan called on Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta. The two leaders exchanged views on regional security developments and ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, said Mindef.
Mr Chan met Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof, and discussed bilateral cooperation as well as engagement through multilateral platforms such as the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus.
Singapore's and Brunei's militaries have regular interactions through high-level visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and bilateral exercises, which strengthen ties and enhance professionalism, said Mindef.
Both countries will mark the 50th anniversary of their defence relations in 2026.
Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (right) with Brunei's Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd Yussof on May 30.
PHOTO: MINDEF
Mr Chan also met Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr, and the two leaders expressed their commitment to continue working together through the ADMM and ADMM-Plus meetings.
They also discussed avenues to further defence cooperation between their countries.
Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing (right) with Philippines Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro at the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
In addition, Mr Chan met French Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.
At their meeting, Mr Chan expressed appreciation for France's support for the Republic of Singapore Air Force training at Cazaux Air Base since 1998. Both ministers also exchanged views on security priorities and geopolitical developments, said Mindef.
The two defence ministers had earlier on May 30 signed three agreements to expand cooperation between Singapore and France in emerging and advanced areas of defence technology, such as quantum and artificial intelligence.
The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to Singapore.
The state visit came as Singapore and France marked 60 years of diplomatic relations.
During the visit, PM Wong and President Macron upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Republic's first with a European country.
Mr Chan's meetings took place at the Shangri-La Hotel, where regional and global defence leaders have gathered for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security summit.
The dialogue, being held from May 30 to June 1, brings together defence ministers, military chiefs and security experts from around the world to discuss key security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
11 hours ago
- Business Times
European leaders to join Zelensky in Trump meeting
EUROPEAN leaders said on Sunday they would join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday, as they try to find a way to end Russia's offensive. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday but the talks failed to yield any breakthrough on a ceasefire - though White House envoy Steve Witkoff said both leaders had agreed to provide 'robust security guarantees' to Ukraine. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen hailed the news but Zelensky, speaking alongside her at a news conference in Brussels, rejected the idea of Russia offering his country security guarantees. 'What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin's thoughts, because Putin will not give any security guarantees,' he said. Zelensky later said on social media that the US offer regarding security guarantees was 'historic'. Moscow denounces Macron BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up French President Emmanuel Macron, who will take part in the Washington meeting along with von der Leyen and others, said European leaders would ask Washington 'to what extent' they were ready to contribute to the security guarantees offered to Ukraine in any peace agreement. Of Moscow's position, he said: 'There is only one state proposing a peace that would be a capitulation: Russia.' Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called that an 'abject lie' in a statement on Telegram later on Sunday. Moscow had been proposing a 'peaceful resolution' of the conflict for seven years under the terms of the Minsk Accords, she said. Macron, she added, was trying to convince Ukraine that it could win on the battlefield even when he knew that that was 'impossible'. Hopes for 'productive meeting' Trump, who pivoted after the Alaska meeting to say he was now seeking a peace deal rather than a ceasefire, on Sunday posted 'BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA. STAY TUNED!' on his Truth Social platform, without elaborating. Trump's sudden focus on a peace deal aligns with the stance long taken by Putin, one which Ukraine and its European allies have criticised as Putin's way to buy time while trying to make battlefield gains. Zelensky also said he saw 'no sign' the Kremlin leader was prepared to meet him and Trump for a three-way summit, as had been floated by the US president. The leaders heading to Washington on Monday to appear alongside Zelensky call themselves the 'coalition of the willing'. As well as von der Leyen and Macron, they include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Also heading to Washington will be Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who get on well with Trump. On Sunday they all held a video meeting to prepare their joint position. Speaking to US broadcaster CNN, Witkoff said: 'I'm hopeful that we have a productive meeting on Monday, we get to real consensus, we're able to come back to the Russians and push this peace deal forward and get it done.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to NBC on Sunday, warned of 'consequences' - including the potential imposition of new sanctions on Russia - if no peace deal was reached on Ukraine. Territorial 'concessions' European leaders have expressed unease from the outset over Trump's outreach to Putin, who has demanded Ukraine abandon its ambitions to join the EU or Nato. They were excluded from Trump's summit with Putin. Witkoff, in his CNN interview, said the process of offering 'game-changing' security guarantees would involve territorial 'concessions'. According to an official briefed on a call Trump held with Zelensky and European leaders as he flew back from Alaska, the US leader supported a Putin proposal that Russia take full control of two eastern Ukrainian regions in exchange for freezing the frontline in two others. Putin 'de facto demands that Ukraine leave Donbas', an area consisting of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine, which Russia currently only partly controls, the source said. In exchange, Russian forces would halt their offensive in the Black Sea port region of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine, where the main cities are still under Ukrainian control. Several months into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia in September 2022 claimed to have annexed all four Ukrainian regions even though its troops still do not fully control any of them. 'The Ukrainian president refused to leave Donbas,' the source said. Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine rages on, with both Kyiv and Moscow launching attack drones at each other on Sunday. AFP
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Straits Times
Global markets face shaky week ahead as US pressure mounts on Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox French President Emmanuel Macron attends a video conference with European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as part of the so-called 'coalition of the willing', Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 at the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France. Philippe Magoni/Pool via REUTERS LONDON - Defence stocks and energy markets are likely to be in focus this week, as European leaders rushed to back Ukraine in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump that may pressure Kyiv to accept a peace deal favouring Russia. Investors are watching for signs that the U.S. may move closer to Russia in a bid to exploit vast, untapped Arctic energy resources, in a major geopolitical shift that piles pressure on Europe to rapidly boost defence spending. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their weekend summit in Alaska without securing a Ukraine ceasefire agreement, with the U.S. President then saying he now wanted a rapid peace deal that Kyiv should accept. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is travelling to Washington on Monday for talks that leaders of nations including Germany, the UK and France will now join. "Trump seems inclined to reduce or even end US support for Ukraine. Putin got him interested in business deals," Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding said in a note to clients. "As a result, the US may lift its sanctions on Russia and invest in Russia instead," he added. "Europe will have to spend a lot more for its own defence." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: New govt-funded traineeship scheme for ITE, poly, university graduates Singapore NDR 2025: CDCs to spearhead new effort to match job seekers to roles nearer to home, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: More avenues for S'poreans to be heard, get involved will be opened up, says PM Wong World European leaders to join Zelensky for Ukraine talks with Trump Sport Third time's the charm as Aaron Liang dethrones Samuel Kang en route to national squash title Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Asia 'Rats from the sky': Urban India finds itself divided on pigeons DEFENCE STOCK RALLY Investors have bet on that outcome since February 2022, driving a supercharged rally in European aerospace and defence stocks with gains of over 600% for Leonardo and 1,500% for Germany's Rheinmetall. The euro has rallied 13% against the dollar this year and traded at about $1.17 on Friday. Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett highlighted the potential for U.S.-Russia Arctic drilling projects to exploit 15% of the world's undiscovered oil and 30% of the world's undiscovered natural gas, resulting in a deep energy bear market. Brent crude, which dropped more than 1% to near $66 a barrel, on Friday, was still priced for a Ukraine peace deal, Hartnett cautioned, while Trump wanted lower energy prices for U.S. consumers. Ukraine's government bonds - key mood indicators - rallied when news of the summit emerged earlier this month but have stalled at a still-distressed 55 cents per dollar. "I would think they will be a bit weaker following the recent strength as the mood seems to favour Russia following Friday's summit," Aegon Asset Management head of emerging market debt Jeff Grills said. REUTERS
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Straits Times
German foreign minister criticises 'aggressive' China ahead of trip to Japan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: German Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul attends a press conference with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot (not seen) after a meeting at the Quai d'Orsay, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Paris, France, July 18, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo BERLIN - Germany's foreign minister on Sunday criticised what he called the "aggressive behaviour" of China in the Taiwan Strait ahead of a trip to Japan and Indonesia, and stressed the need to strengthen internationally binding rules. Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul praised Japan's solidarity with Europe over Ukraine as he prepared to board a plane, and highlighted the importance and economic potential of the two populous Asian countries. His ministry also published a separate statement from Wadephul in which he expressed concern about China. "China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas also affects us in Europe: fundamental principles of our global co-existence are at stake here," the minister said. "We are countering this together through our commitment to an international order, which is supported by the strength of the law and binding rules for all." Tensions have simmered between China and other powers in the Asia-Pacific region over territorial claims. Earlier this week the Chinese military said it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: CDCs to spearhead new effort to match job seekers to roles nearer to home, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: Govt will help workers harness AI, redesign jobs, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: S'pore looking at more ways to strengthen online safety for children and support parents Singapore NDR 2025: Developing human qualities key priority for schools in age of AI, says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: Govt to strengthen partnership with Chinese community, which played key role in nation-building Singapore NDR 2025: New Islamic college campus will be in Rochor, students can take courses at SUSS next door Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Wadephul's criticism of China comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington that aims to work towards a peace settlement in Ukraine. China, a major trading partner but also rival of Germany, has stood by Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, causing friction with Western powers over the conflict. Beijing says it is not helping Russia's military and is not a party to the war. REUTERS
