ADVANCING SINGAPORE-INDONESIA DEFENCE RELATIONS

Although defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia are robust, both sides need to continue investing effort to deepen those ties, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean during his speech at the Indonesia Defence University on 9 Dec.

He credited the many professional exchanges between both countries' armed forces for providing "a stable foundation for good overall bilateral relations". This relationship dates back over 40 years, when officers from the two sides began attending each others' senior command schools.

In addition, both countries' armed forces regularly participate in exercises such as the longstanding bilateral air exercise codenamed Elang Indopura and the 22-year-old bilateral army exercise codenamed Safkar Indopura.

Mr Teo cited Indonesia-Singapore Coordinated Patrols - which have reduced incidences of sea-robberies in the Singapore Strait - as another area which the two nations cooperate in to promote regional peace and security. He said: "Our bilateral defence cooperation has kept both our countries safer, built interoperability, and forged personal friendships."

He also noted in his speech that bilateral defence cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia has deepened and expanded over the years to include areas such as education, tourism and trade.

This broad-based relationship enjoyed by the two countries is the result of shared bilateral and regional interests based on respect and mutually-beneficial cooperation, said Mr Teo.

"All of us want to find ways to create a safe and peaceful environment conducive for economic growth and prosperity," he added. To that end, Mr Teo highlighted the importance of an open, robust and inclusive regional security architecture such as ASEAN and the critical role which Indonesia has to play in it.

Mr Teo is in Jakarta after visiting the Ngurah Rai Air Base in Bali, where the biennial Exercise Elang Indopura is being held from 26 Nov to 10 Dec. While in Bali, Mr Teo called on Indonesian President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

He also called on Indonesian Vice-President Boediono in Jakarta today. During the call, both men reaffirmed the excellent and broad-based bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr Teo also met Minister for Defence Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

Mr Teo's visit underscores the warm and friendly ties between the Singapore and Indonesian defence establishments, which includes regular professional exchanges and long-standing bilateral exercises.