Syllabus: GS2/ International Relation
In News
- Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in New Delhi.
Key Outcomes of the Summit
- Maritime Security & Malacca Strait Patrol: India expressed interest in patrolling the Malacca Strait, a strategic chokepoint connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
- Collaboration in submarine rescue operations, support for the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
- Defence & Emerging Technologies: Joint research and cooperation in quantum computing, artificial Intelligence, automation & unmanned vessels etc.
- Economic & Infrastructure Cooperation: Agreement to export green energy from India to Singapore through dedicated ports.
- Enhanced cooperation in space research and applications.
- India–Singapore policy dialogue on semiconductors established.
- Skilling & Advanced Manufacturing: Agreement to set up a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Advanced Manufacturing in Chennai.
- Counter-Terrorism & Security Cooperation: Both sides reiterated cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels, including in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to combat cross-border terrorism.
Strategic Importance of Malacca Strait
- Global Trade Artery: Nearly 40% of India’s trade and 80% of China’s oil imports pass through it.
- Energy Security: Ensures uninterrupted oil and gas flows from the Middle East to East Asia.
- Geostrategic Leverage: India’s Andaman & Nicobar Command provides proximity to this chokepoint, enhancing its role in Indo-Pacific maritime security.
Brief India–Singapore Relations
- Historical Context: Ties go back to ancient times through maritime trade and Buddhism.
- Modern relations strengthened after Singapore’s independence in 1965.
- Singapore was among the first ASEAN countries to support India’s Look East Policy (1990s), now Act East Policy.
- Political & Defence Ties: 2015 marked 50 years of diplomatic relations.
- Regular joint exercises are SIMBEX (naval), Bold Kurukshetra (army), Agni Warrior (artillery).
- Economic & Trade Relations: Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) – 2005 covers trade, services, and investments.
- Singapore is among India’s largest trade and investment partners in ASEAN and accounted for 27.83 % of our overall trade with ASEAN in 2024-25. Singapore is the leading source of Foreign Direct Investment into India.
- Multilateral Cooperation: Strong partners in ASEAN, East Asia Summit, IORA, IONS, FATF, WTO, UN, and Commonwealth.
Source: TH
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