Singapore to spend $2.25bn on Australia military training facilities

Singapore will spend $2.25bn for upgrading military training facilities in Australia and more than double the number of defense force personnel it sends there every year for training, the Financial Times quoted both governments as saying on Friday.

The expansion of Singapore’s overseas training program to 14,000 troops a year, up from 6,000, is part of a wider strategic and economic partnership deal with Canberra. It comes amid increasing tension in the Asia-Pacific region where China has been militarizing disputed islands in the South China Sea.

“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody that a small city-state like Singapore, for example, looks throughout the region to where they’re able to mobilize forces, to where they’re able to build experienced capacity and training,” said Steven Ciobo, Australia’s trade minister.
“Australia has had a long-term great relationship with Singapore, so it’s a logical extension,” he added.

The Australia-Singapore comprehensive strategic partnership agreement will provide the city state with enhanced access to military training areas and facilities for a period of 25 years, enhance military personnel exchanges and intelligence sharing in areas of mutual interest, such as counter-terrorism. Final details of the agreement are expected to be concluded later this year.

Paul Burton, Singapore-based director for defense industry and budgets at IHS Jane’s, said that Singapore is pursuing an expansion of its overseas training programs around the world as it seeks more space for large-scale maneuvers and live-firing exercises.
The city-state occupies a tiny and densely populated area. By contrast, Australia’s Shoalwater Bay training area alone is three times the size of Singapore. An expansion of the deal with Australia will allow the country’s armed forces to deploy more of its reservist troops to train alongside conscripts.

Mr Burton said: “[the defense co-operation deal provides] Singaporean armored forces with credible opportunities for realistic training, such as moving tanks and APCs long distances and engaging in live firing.”
Singapore also conducts exercises and training in countries including Germany, India, South Africa and the US. In recent years, Singapore has extended the scope and duration of its armor training exercises in Germany. The city-state has the biggest defense budget in Southeast Asia, spending $9.4bn last year.

Analysts said the agreement may not be directly linked to mounting security concerns in Singapore over rising tensions in the South China Sea caused by territorial disputes between China and several countries in the region. But they said this was undoubtedly part of the strategic backdrop to Australia and Singapore’s desire to strengthen defense ties.

“Australia and Singapore both have a common interest in freedom of navigation issues in the South China Sea and are seeking reliable partnerships in the region,” said Euan Graham, analyst at the Lowy Institute for International Policy.

The strategic partnership deal will provide Australia with greater access to Singapore’s professional services and education markets. The two governments will open negotiation on mutual recognition of qualifications, prioritizing engineering and accountancy, and introduce better visa rights for investors and overseas workers.

Details of the strategic partnership agreement were announced as an election campaign gets under way in Australia, which will go to the polls on July 2.

The upgrading of military facilities is expected to create jobs in Queensland, an area hit hard by the commodities crash. 

Source : MENA