Singapore thumbs down large-scale drills with the Philippines

Photo from the Ministry of Defence of Singapore

By Manuel Mogato | Date 07-31-2024

MANILA — Singapore, a long-time ally of the Philippines, has broadened its security relations with the country in a new defense cooperation deal.

However, it was no longer interested in sending back troops to participate actively in large-scale military drills, which it used to have three decades ago.

In a Twitter (X) post, Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said they are no longer interested in a status-of-forces agreement (SOFA) to allow the two countries’ military forces to hold drills and training to improve interoperability.

“It would be remembered that Singapore has been interested in signing a VFA-like agreement with the Philippines, with the last time it was mentioned by former Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana a few years ago,” Ng said on X, referring to a predecessor of Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

“It appears that this isn’t the case anymore as Singapore may have become disinterested in such an agreement as it already got defense agreements for basing and training with bigger countries like the US and Australia.”

Ng and Teodoro signed on July 24 a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation, coinciding with the 55th anniversary of bilateral relations.

Ng said that the agreement focuses on military education and fighting terrorism.

Both Southeast Asian states have been dealing with remnants of al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants, particularly members of Jemaah Islamiyah.

In the 1990s, the two states held annual exercises called “Anoa-Singa” to exchange and share best practices in combat operations.

However, these activities were stopped in 1995 after huge protests erupted in the Philippine capital when Singapore hanged a Filipino domestic helper, Flor Contemplacion, who was found guilty of murdering another Filipino maid and her three-year-old ward.

Then President Fidel Ramos appealed to Singapore to stay the execution but failed to get a reprieve.

The Singapore Air Force also deployed a squadron of fighters at the former US Air Force base in Clark Field in a deal with the United States.

The fighter squadron was moved to the continental US after the American forces were kicked out from its two large overseas bases in the Philippines in November 1992.

A Philippine defense official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said there had been efforts to revive the  “Anoa-Singa” exercises before the previous administration.

But he needed to be made aware of what was holding up the deal so the countries could resume exercises.

He said the new defense cooperation deal would allow low-key exercises like table-top planning and gaming to deal with humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and counter-terrorism.

Singapore and Philippine officials did not provide details on the new defense cooperation agreement.

Earlier this month, the Philippines signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, a status-of-forces agreement similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States and Australia.

Teodoro said Manila has been in talks with three Western states — Canada, France, and New Zealand — to sign similar defense cooperation agreements on training and exercises.

Canadian and French warships had joined joint sails with the Philippines, the United States and Japan this year.

Canada was also helping the Philippines monitor and track Chinese vessels in the South China Sea through its “dark vessel” satellite-based program.

France, on the other, has offered to sell two Scorpene diesel-electric submarines for 100 billion pesos.

A defense official said the VFA-like deal with Wellington might be signed next year after the two sides conclude a Mutual Logistics and Servicing Agreement (MLSA) late this year.

The Philippines has a similar five-year MLSA deal with the United States, which was renewed several times since early 2000.

China has opposed these military deals, accusing the Philippines of working closely with the United States to build a web of small alliances to isolate Beijing.