NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday signed an agreement with Singapore which will allow the island nation’s air force personnel to train at the Indian Air Force base in Kalaikunda, West Bengal, for the next five years.
Singapore is one of the world’s smallest countries, with its 704 square km territory scattered across 60 islands. The country’s location affords it a great geo-strategic significance. But to take advantage of that, Singapore needs a well-trained military. And India is expected to play a crucial part in fulfilling that demand.
According to Tuesday’s agreement, Singapore Air Force fighters will train at the IAF base at notified times.
Although Singapore has already carried out such training missions in India, New Delhi has never ‘leased’ out its military installations to foreign countries on a long-term basis.
A brief government statement announcing the agreement did not mention the terms of payment.
Defence officials said a deal to train the Singapore Army in select Indian Army bases is being considered.
The agreement to lease Kalaikunda was signed by India’s defence secretary, Vijay Singh, and Singapore’s permanent secretary of defence Chiang Chie Foo. Chiang is leading a delegation to India for the fourth ‘India-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue’.
“During the dialogue, both sides expressed the need to intensify cooperation,” the statement said. “The regional security aspect, from Indian and Singaporean perspectives, were discussed.”
