PM Wong Deepens Defence Ties with Australia and Qatar at Shangri-La Dialogue

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held meetings with the deputy prime ministers of Australia and Qatar on May 30, focusing on deepening security ties with both nations. These discussions took place on the sidelines of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, an event hosted at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel. The dialogue commenced on May 29 and is scheduled to conclude on May 31. During these key engagements, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met the deputy prime ministers of Australia and Qatar and discussed how to deepen security ties with both countries on the sidelines of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30, noting Singapore's commitment to strengthening its international defence relationships.

Defence Cooperation with Qatar

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reaffirming the warm and friendly bilateral relationship between Singapore and Qatar, according to Singapore's Ministry of Defence. The meeting, held at the Istana, included Singapore’s Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, and focused on deepening cooperation in areas such as defence and energy security. During the meeting at the Istana, which was also attended by Singapore’s Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, the two leaders discussed how to deepen cooperation in areas such as defence and energy security, showing the strategic importance of these sectors. Mr. Wong conveyed Singapore’s appreciation for Qatar’s role in promoting regional stability and facilitating dialogue in the Middle East. PM Wong also expressed Singapore’s appreciation for Qatar’s role in promoting regional stability and facilitating dialogue in the Middle East, acknowledging Qatar's significant diplomatic efforts. Qatar has supported Singapore’s efforts to repatriate its citizens from the region, amidst its involvement in the conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel. Qatar has been mired in the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel, and has supported Singapore’s efforts to repatriate its citizens from the region, demonstrating a practical aspect of their bilateral cooperation.

Enhanced Ties with Australia

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Istana, where the two leaders exchanged views on regional security developments. PM Wong also met Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Istana, and the two leaders exchanged views on regional security developments, covering a range of pressing issues. Mr. Wong and Mr. Marles reaffirmed the "longstanding and multifaceted relations" between Singapore and Australia, along with the close people-to-people relations between both countries. During their meeting, PM Wong and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles reaffirmed the “longstanding and multifaceted relations” between Singapore and Australia, as well as the close people-to-people relations between both countries, emphasizing the depth of their partnership. They anticipated deepening bilateral defence cooperation in key areas, including critical underwater infrastructure, and enhancing both militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore. They also looked forward to deepening bilateral defence cooperation in key areas, such as critical underwater infrastructure, and enhancing both militaries’ reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore, pointing to future strategic initiatives. An agreement to enhance defence cooperation between Australia and Singapore was signed in 2025. Prime Minister Wong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the upgrade of Singapore-Australia ties to a Full Strategic Partnership at the 10th Singapore-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting in 2025.

Broader Diplomatic Engagements

The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, held separate meetings with Singaporean leaders during his visit. On May 30, Sheikh Saoud met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana. The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister separately met President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana on May 30, further cementing high-level diplomatic ties. Additionally, on May 29, Sheikh Saoud met with Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel. The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister also met Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel on May 29, showcasing the breadth of his engagements. These engagements show the breadth of diplomatic interactions during the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Context of Shangri-La Dialogue

The Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defence summit, is an annual inter-governmental security forum organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Hosted in Singapore, the event brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and security experts from various countries to discuss regional and global security challenges. This year's 23rd iteration began on May 29 and concludes on May 31 at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel. The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue is being held at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel from May 29 to 31, providing a consistent venue for these important discussions. The dialogue serves as a key platform for diplomatic engagements and bilateral meetings on the sidelines, facilitating discussions on defence cooperation and regional stability among key leaders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Richard Marles.