Viet Nam, Singapore hold 16th Defence Policy Dialogue

Chien noted that 2025 marks a historic milestone in Viet Nam–Singapore relations, as the two countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Singapore in March. This serves as vivid evidence of the strong political determination to strengthen and advance the bilateral relations.

At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on the global and regional situation and other issues of mutual concern.

The Vietnamese officer emphasised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s crucial role in shaping and maintaining regional security and fostering substantial cooperation among member states and with partner countries.

Regarding the East Sea/ South China Sea, Chien reaffirmed Viet Nam’s consistent stance of settling all disputes and disagreements by peaceful measures based on international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea/ South China Sea (DOC), while promoting the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea/ South China Sea (COC) among parties.

Regarding the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) cooperation process, Chien stated that Viet Nam highly evaluates Singapore’s role and practical, effective contributions to these initiatives, and the country pledges to continue its active and responsible participation in relevant efforts to maintain regional peace and stability.

Acknowledging the positive outcomes of bilateral defence cooperation in recent times, he suggested the two countries further strengthen trust-based, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation, focusing on enhancing all- level delegation exchanges and meetings; upholding the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms; maintaining cooperation in training human resources; and boosting cooperation and exchanges between the two countries’ naval, air, and coast guard forces.

The two sides should explore the possibility of expanding cooperation in areas of mutual strength and need, such as cybersecurity and search-and-rescue operations, and consult and support each other within the ASEAN defence and military framework, he said.

Chien thanked Singapore for hosting Vietnamese naval, border guard, and coast guard officers at the Information Fusion Centre (IFC), noting that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence invited its Singaporean counterpart to send officers to Vietnamese language courses and the International Defence Officials Training Programme at the National Defence Academy, and welcomed delegations from both countries’ academies and schools for study visits and exchanges.

He took this occasion to invite leaders of the Singapore Ministry of Defence, and Chan personally, to attend the 3rd Viet Nam International Defence Exhibition, scheduled for 2026.

For his part, Chan extended his condolences to victims and families affected by recent natural disasters and storms in Viet Nam, affirming that Singapore stands ready to cooperate with and support Viet Nam in overcoming disaster consequences.

He highlighted the flourishing development of bilateral cooperation, with defence as a cornerstone, expressing his hope that, building on the outcomes of the dialogue, the two sides will continue to coordinate and enhance cooperation in agreed areas, especially naval collaboration, training, and cybersecurity, thus elevating the defence ties to a new level.

The two officers signed the three-year defence cooperation plan for 2025 – 2028, and a memorandum of understanding to boost training cooperation between the two ministries, and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents between their naval forces.