Japan Minister of Defense Kishi Nobuo is in Singapore for the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). Minister for Defense Dr Ng Eng Hen and Kishi signed an Enhanced Memorandum on Defense Exchanges June 11 at the Shangri-La Hotel. Singapore and Japan also announced the commencement of negotiations on an agreement concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology.

The Memorandum on Defense Exchanges was first signed between then-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Teo Chee Hean and then-Japan Minister of Defense Kitazawa Toshimi in December 2009. 

The Memorandum on Defense Exchanges formalized defense interactions between both establishments, such as exchange of visits by officials, conduct of policy dialogues and military staff talks, as well as the cross-attendance of courses and seminars. It also allowed both countries to broaden defense cooperation on areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peace support operations.

The Enhanced Memorandum on Defense Exchanges identifies new areas of cooperation including logistics support, exchanges on defense technology, protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive (CBRE) threats, strategic communications and maritime security. Both countries will also advance regional cooperation in a multilateral setting such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

Photo credit: Singapore Government. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (right) signing the Enhanced Memorandum on Defence Exchanges with Japan Minister of Defense Kishi Nobuo (left) on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue.