In a landmark journey, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing embarked on his inaugural visit to Brunei, enhancing diplomatic relations with the South-east Asian nation.

Meeting Royal Leaders: A Reinforcement of Bonds

During the two-day trip starting August 22, Minister Chan engaged with the ruling family of Brunei, including an important audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Their discussions underscored the significance of the enduring relationship between Singapore and Brunei, particularly in their defense collaboration.

Chan expressed gratitude to the Sultan for attending Singapore's 60th National Day Parade, highlighting their mutual commitment to furthering cooperation.

Future Endeavors and Youth Leadership

In a meeting with Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, both leaders looked ahead to the Young Leaders’ Programme scheduled for 2025 in Singapore, emphasizing the importance of nurturing future leaders.

Defense Partnership: A Commitment to Collaboration

Mr. Chan also met with Brunei’s Defence Minister Halbi Yussof, discussing vital bilateral defense cooperation. They reaffirmed their dedication to fostering strong people-to-people connections, celebrating the success of the recent Singapore-Brunei Junior Defence Interaction programme that saw 20 young officers collaborating.

Navigating Geopolitical Challenges Together

The pair also emphasized the importance of close collaboration within regional platforms like the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, especially amidst the current geopolitical climate.

Celebrating 50 Years of Defense Relations

Mindef highlighted that Mr. Chan's visit symbolizes the "close and longstanding" defense ties, with 2026 marking a significant milestone—the 50th anniversary of these relations.

Training in Diverse Terrains

On August 23, Chan visited the Temburong training camp, where SAF officer cadets were undergoing a challenging jungle confidence course. Accompanied by Major-General Cai Dexian, Chief of Army, Mr. Chan noted the unique training opportunities that Brunei's terrain offers and commended the caliber of the SAF training and safety protocols.

He remarked, "Hardly any military sends their soldiers with less than six months’ experience to train in the jungle. This speaks volumes about our training quality and safety system—our ability to send cadets to survive alone in the jungle for nine days is a testament to our confidence in their training."