MULTINATIONAL EFFORT TO COUNTER WMD PROLIFERATION

Cooperative action backed by strong international will is essential in dealing with a complex threat like the trafficking of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

This was the point made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of Exercise Deep Sabre II at the Changi Command and Control Centre on 27 Oct.

Recognising that the high volume of trade and information flow circulating the globe today offers proliferators "greater flexibility and options", Mr Teo pointed out that they had grown increasingly sophisticated in their approach and often used legitimate channels to make detection and prevention more difficult.

As such, no nation acting alone will have the resources and ability to "effectively address the challenges posed by this transnational and multifaceted threat", where the proliferators may operate from multiple countries and the proliferation supply chain may involve a myriad of different players, he added.

Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) activities thus play a vital role in allowing countries to work together to "build up national capacities for counter-proliferation and develop practical ways for coordinating enforcement actions against the proliferators", said Mr Teo.

In addition to multilateral exercises like Exercise Deep Sabre, Singapore has also actively contributed to counter-proliferation efforts by supporting treaties such as the Chemical Weapons Convention, as well as beefing up its own legislative and enforcement measures to implement an enhanced export control system.

Held from 27 to 30 Oct, Exercise Deep Sabre II is the second PSI exercise to be hosted by Singapore. Bringing together some 2,000 personnel, 18 ships and eight aircraft from the military and agencies of various nations, the exercise has seen an increase in the number of participating PSI countries.

From 13 in the first exercise hosted by Singapore in 2005, there are 19 PSI nations involved in this year's exercise, a testament to the growing importance the international community places on preventing the proliferation of WMDs. Nine PSI countries - which include Argentina, Brunei, Korea, the Philippines and Turkey - will be taking part in the exercise for the first time.

Besides a table-top exercise in which participants will discuss PSI-related matters, Exercise Deep Sabre II will also involve the tracking and interdiction of a merchant ship suspected of carrying WMD-related materials. Board and search operations will be conducted on the suspicious vessel in the South China Sea on 29 Oct.

After the vessel is diverted back to shore, a port search demonstration by civilian enforcement agencies will take place at Changi Naval Training Base. An observer programme is also being held for non-PSI countries, to promote awareness and enhance their understanding of PSI efforts.

Commenting on how the exercise has taken integration levels a step higher, Exercise Director Colonel (COL) Jackson Chia, commander of the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), told cyberpioneer: "I think it's important to note that this exercise is an undertaking that requires a strong collaborative approach at both the national and international levels."

"We have been working very closely with other national agencies such as the Maritime Port Authority, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Customs, and the Police Coast Guard. This exercise allows us to test the different operating procedures as well as iron out some of the key differences so that we are always ready to handle the threat of WMD proliferation if it materialises in our waters," he said.

"Exercise Deep Sabre also enables us to interact and work with like-minded partner nations in terms of planning and coordinating our operations to interdict a suspected WMD-carrying vessel out in the open sea. Through workshops and seminars we are also encouraging the participants to exchange their experiences and learn and share best practices."

Mr Jeff McAlistair, Deputy Director of the International Security and Disarmament Division from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, agreed, adding: "It's a unique opportunity for New Zealand to exercise alongside our key regional security partners, such as Singapore, and by doing so, I think we send an effective deterrent signal to would-be proliferaters, that they should not send their shipments near our shores."

Launched in 2003, the PSI is a multinational initiative which aims to combat the growing threat posed by the proliferation of WMDs, their delivery systems and related materials. Since its inception six years ago, PSI membership has grown from an initial number of 11 states to over 90 countries today.