Adelaide, July 27 (AseanAll) — Singaporean Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry) Dr Tan See Leng met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Minister for Trade and Tourism and Special Minister of State Don Farrell for the 15th meeting of the SAJMC in Adelaide on 27 July 2026.
The Ministers reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral relations, underpinned by strategic convergence and economic complementarities between Singapore and Australia. The Ministers noted the good progress across the five pillars of the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP 2.0): (a) contributing to peace and stability, at home and in our region; (b) connecting our economies; (c) transitioning to net-zero; (d) forging new frontiers; and (e) deepening friendships and capabilities.
Both sides signed the Protocol to the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) on Economic Resilience and Essential Supplies. The Protocol reflects Singapore’s and Australia’s commitment to supply chain resilience and the priority that both countries accord to each other with respect to trade in essential supplies. Both sides also signed the Industrial Base Resiliency Arrangement (IBRA) which provides a practical framework for Singapore and Australia to strengthen defence industrial cooperation. The Ministers agreed that Singapore and Australia would deepen cooperation in emerging areas including AI, clean and renewable energy, and subsea cables.
The Ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments. They reaffirmed their commitment to uphold ASEAN Centrality and continue working together to support the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, including during Singapore’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027.
Following the 15th SAJMC meeting, the Ministers issued a Joint Communique on the key outcomes.
