S PORE TAKES PART IN MULTINATIONAL PSI EXERCISE

A team from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group (CBRE DG) is taking part in an international Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise in Darwin.

Code-named Pacific Protector , the exercise involves participants from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

PSI is a multinational initiative to address the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and related materials.

Pacific Protector simulated the interception, escort and subsequent search of an aircraft suspected of carrying an illicit WMD-related cargo.

The SAF s CBRE DG team participated in the ground component of the exercise, where they worked with customs, police and specialist response personnel to search the intercepted aircraft.

Since 2003, Singapore has taken part in a number of PSI exercises, including a PSI maritime interdiction exercise, which it hosted last August.

Singapore s participation in PSI activities underscores the country s firm commitment to global counter-proliferation efforts.