• India and Singapore agreed to further step up defence cooperation and enhance industry cooperation, including exploring collaboration in niche domains such as automation and artificial intelligence. 

• Singapore is strategically positioned on the world map, bordered by Malaysia and Indonesia, serving as a crucial gateway to Southeast Asia.

• At the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue, the defence ministers of the two countries also agreed to extend the bilateral agreement on Joint Military Training Army for the next five years.

• As 2025 marks 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore, both ministers agreed to further step up defence cooperation and agreed to achieve new feats. They also agreed to extend bilateral agreement on Joint Military Training Army for the next five years.

India-Singapore Relations

• India and Singapore share a robust bilateral relationship that spans various domains, including defense, science and technology, trade and economics, infrastructure and connectivity, and cultural cooperation.

Defence and Security Cooperation

• Both countries are aligned in their concerns regarding terrorism and extremism, leading to the development of a comprehensive framework for security cooperation.

• Singapore actively participates in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and the multilateral exercise MILAN, hosted by the Indian Navy.

• Singapore’s membership in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and India’s involvement in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADDM+) facilitate coordinated positions on regional security issues.

The two countries conduct bilateral exercises involving all three branches of their armed forces: 

• Exercise Agni Warrior (Army) 

• Exercise SIMBEX (Navy) 

• Air Force Exercise Joint Military Training (JMT).

Science & Technology Cooperation

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Singapore’s first indigenously built micro-satellite in 2011, followed by two more in 2014 and six in 2015.

• In June 2018, India and Singapore signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cognitive computing, and big data analytics to enhance healthcare, cybersecurity, automation, smart energy systems, and e-governance.

Trade Relations

• Singapore is India’s largest trade partner in the ASEAN region and its sixth-largest overall trade partner as of the 2023-24 fiscal year.

• Following the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), bilateral trade expanded to $35.6 billion in 2023-24.

• India is a net importer in this trade relationship, indicating a significant influx of goods from Singapore.

• To combat tax evasion, India signed the Direct Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore in 2016.

Financial Technology (Fintech): 

• Landmark developments include the introduction of the RuPay card and the UPI-PayNow linkage, facilitating cross-border financial transactions.

Multilateral Cooperation

India and Singapore are active participants in various multilateral organisations, including:

• East Asia Summit

• G20

• Commonwealth

• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).

Singapore has joined the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuel Alliance, showcasing mutual interests in sustainable development. 

• Both nations closely cooperate on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), addressing regional economic challenges. 

Cultural Ties and Community

• Ethnic Indians constitute approximately 9.1 per cent of Singapore’s resident population. Among the 1.6 million foreigners residing in Singapore, around one-fifth are Indian citizens.

• Tamil is one of the four official languages of Singapore, highlighting the cultural and linguistic ties between the two nations. 

• The India-Singapore relationship is marked by strong trade, defence collaboration, and cultural connections, reflecting a shared commitment to regional stability and economic prosperity. As both countries continue to engage on various fronts, their partnership is likely to strengthen further, contributing to a more integrated and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)