STRENGTHENING TIES: S'PORE, NZ HOLD INAUGURAL DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING

As the world enters a period of uncertainty, it is important to strengthen relationships with like-minded parties, to help guide the region towards peace and stability, said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Dr Ng was speaking after the inaugural Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers' Meeting (SG-NZ DMM) with New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee. The meeting was held on 16 Jan in Waiouru, New Zealand, where both ministers observed Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops taking part in Exercise Thunder Warrior 2017.

Dr Ng said: "We (Singapore and New Zealand) both felt that in this period of uncertainty we should really strengthen the platforms that we have -- the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), the ADMM (ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting)-Plus -- and our bilateral relations."

The annual formal meeting was an initiative agreed upon by both Dr Ng and Mr Brownlee and is to be held at the highest level. It is a platform for conducting discussions on issues of mutual concern.

On New Zealand's relationship with Singapore, Mr Brownlee said: "Singapore is one of the closest military relationships that New Zealand has and we live in a part of the world where having a friend like Singapore is important."

He welcomed the establishment of the SG-NZ DMM, adding: "We have been able to very personally reaffirm the close relationship between our two countries and express the desire (to) expand the various interactions that we have as we move forward."

Following the meeting, the ministers issued a Joint Statement. In it, they endorsed the key principles of the 2009 Defence Cooperation Arrangement, particularly that cooperation between like-minded countries on defence and security issues is an essential part of responding effectively to threats to regional peace and stability.

They acknowledged the historical collaboration between the two nations on overseas operations, including Timor-Leste and Afghanistan. Mr Brownlee noted that Singapore was New Zealand's closest defence partner in Southeast Asia, and New Zealand had supported the SAF medical team's upcoming counter-terrorism deployment to Iraq.

Both ministers agreed to explore further opportunities for the SAF and New Zealand Defence Force to cooperate, as well as for the SAF to carry out training in New Zealand. They welcomed the establishment of Air Force Staff Talks, an Education and Training Working Group and an Operational Working Group, to facilitate discussions for new cooperation initiatives.

Mr Brownlee affirmed New Zealand's continued commitment to the FPDA and ADMM-Plus and Dr Ng welcomed the Royal New Zealand Navy's participation of a Naval Task Group in Singapore for Exercise Bersama Shield and the International Naval Review in April.

20 years of Exercise Thunder Warrior

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Exercise Thunder Warrior, an artillery live-firing training exercise. To commemorate the event, Dr Ng and Mr Brownlee signed commemorative plaques.

They visited the troops at the Waiouru Military Training Area, where they observed an integrated live-firing exercise involving the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer Primus, Safari Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) and Field Artillery Meteorological System. During the visit, Dr Ng also fired one of the Howitzers.

Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the exercise, Dr Ng thanked Mr Brownlee and New Zealand for the opportunity for the SAF to train its long-range artillery weapons.

About 500 Singapore Artillery personnel are participating in this year's edition of Exercise Thunder Warrior from 6 to 26 Jan. These include full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) from the 24th and 289th Battalions, Singapore Artillery (24 SA and 289 SA respectively).

This is 2nd Sergeant (2SG) Muhammad Afiq bin Nahar's first overseas deployment. The 21-year-old NSF is excited to be able to operate the newly-commissioned Safari: "Not many people get the opportunity to be in New Zealand. I also get to work with a system that is new. It's really an honour."

The Safari was commissioned in September 2016 and this is the first time the platform is being used in an overseas mission.

As for Gun Positioning Officer Lieutenant (LTA) Phang Chun Kai, an NSman from 289 SA, training in Waiouru gives him the opportunity to fire live rounds, which he is unable to do during training in Singapore: "This live firing enhances our capability to be more operationally ready. The gunners finally have the chance to put their hands on the projectile, and so it feels real for them. And I think that is very important for the true operational readiness of a soldier."

The 28-year-old data analyst from Grab is recently married. Even though he was reluctant to leave Singapore barely a fortnight after his wedding, a sense of commitment to his National Service unit pushed him to go ahead. He said: "We have great people here, and after working together for several years, I want to experience the high point of our In-camp Training with them and fulfil my duty. So I thought it was important to come here with them."