SINGAPORE AND NEW ZEALAND SIGN DEFENCE COOPERATION ARRANGEMENT

New Zealand's Minister of Defence Wayne Mapp and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean signed the Arrangement on Defence Cooperation between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the Republic of Singapore at the Ministry of Defence on 27 May.

This is the first bilateral defence agreement to be signed between Singapore and New Zealand at the ministerial level.

The arrangement serves as a framework for both countries to deepen the existing defence interactions and foster new means of cooperation. It also reaffirms the excellent defence relationship between New Zealand and Singapore. Policy dialogues, military cooperation, operations and training are also part of the arrangement.

Singapore and New Zealand will enhance operations and training further through collaboration in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), search and rescue (SAR) missions and peace support operations (PSOs).

Dr Mapp, who is in Singapore for an introductory visit from 27 to 28 May, called on Mr Teo before the defence cooperation arrangement signing ceremony.

While in Singapore, Dr Mapp will also visit the Headquarters, Singapore Artillery, and Changi Naval Base.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) have enjoyed an excellent history of military cooperation. Both armed forces have worked together in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan. They also interact regularly as members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.