Australia and Singapore are in talks to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, including enhanced reciprocal access to each other’s naval and air bases, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Wednesday.
Wong said the proposed agreement would allow Australia to deploy more forces in Asia, strengthening regional engagement and security. “We see Australia as a resident power in Asia, and your continued presence in this part of the world contributes to stability and security for all countries in Asia,” he added.
Albanese and Wong also discussed the recent Optus telecoms outage, which disrupted emergency Triple Zero services across Australia and was linked to four deaths. Wong expressed condolences and backed strong measures to prevent a recurrence.
Earlier, both leaders announced an upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership focusing on the green economy, innovation and defence, marking a new phase in the long-standing relationship between the two nations.
Bloomberg
