Singapore ‘Leases’ Indian Air Force Base For 5 Years
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.” (DNA)
***** Another brilliant strategic move by the Singaporeans. There is every reason why we should be envious of them and their genius.
Image - Source:
1) IAF
2) SAF
Labels: Foreign Affairs
posted by The Malaysian. at 10/10/2007 01:32:00 PM
4 Comments:
"***** Another brilliant strategic move by the Singaporeans. There is every reason why we should be envious of them and their genius."
Malaysians have no reason to envy them, or be in awe of their genius. We have in Malaysia many thinkers and geniuses and are a country rich in natural resources, our downfall is a government which is self centred, greedy, corrupt and uneducated combined with voters who are apathetic and blindly follow their so called 'leaders'. The wealth of Malaysia has and is still being squandered and misused.
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Malaysia and Singapore began respective nationhood almost the same time in the sixties. Singapore a resource poor country whereas Malaysia is resource rich. Four decades later, the resource poor country is now a developed country with almost impeccable judiciary system. But the resource rich Malaysia is still struggling to eradicate poverty and its people cry foul over its tainted judiciary system. What has gone wrong? Those in power should think hard.
5:07 PM MYT
The different is their leader which produce more leaders.
Our leader produce followers or maybe i should say idiots.
Malu lah if to compare with the red dot.
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