Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman with Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTINew Delhi: India and Singapore on Wednesday signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in maritime security and called for ensuring freedom of navigation in critical sea lanes in the backdrop of China’s increasing assertiveness in the region. “India and Singapore remain strongly committed to tackle the transnational security threats,” Sitharaman said at a joint media interaction with Ng, noting that both sides agreed to ramp up overall defence cooperation. The two sides also signed the revised Defence Cooperation Agreement to further strengthen the longstanding defence relationship between the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indian Armed Forces. The joint statement said both ministers look forward to the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Singapore-India maritime bilateral exercise next year.

Source: Mint November 29, 2017 23:15 UTC