Singapore and Australia share longstanding and multifaceted relations that are built on deep, substantive cooperation in areas such as defence, economics and warm people-to-people relations.
Bilateral relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2015. The CSP is a broad-ranging agreement with over 110 completed initiatives across six pillars: Economics and Trade, Defence and Foreign Affairs, People-to-People, Science and Innovation, Digital Economy, and Green Economy. Both sides have agreed to work towards the next phase of the CSP, ahead of its 10th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025.
Australia is an important economic partner for Singapore. Trade and investment links between both countries are strong. The Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed in February 2003 and entered into force in July 2003. A revised Agreement entered into force in December 2017. Both sides commemorated the 20th anniversary of the SAFTA in May 2023.
Singapore and Australia enjoy close defence ties, founded on substantive interactions and shared perspectives. The Singapore Armed Forces train in Australia, both unilaterally and bilaterally with the Australian Defence Force. In March 2020, Singapore and Australia signed the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development, a key deliverable of the CSP. Building on 30 years of Singapore’s training in Australia, the Treaty underpins the A$2.25 billion investment to jointly develop military training areas and facilities in an expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area and a new Greenvale Training Area in Queensland, as well as advanced training facilities in Central and North Queensland. This will benefit both armed forces and deepen defence cooperation. Singapore and Australia also cooperate closely in multilateral forums such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.
Singaporeans and Australians share warm and close personal links, underpinned by close bilateral cooperation in the areas of education and arts and culture. Under the New Colombo Plan, more than 200 Australian students travelled to Singapore in the first three months of 2023, and over 4,000 student grants were awarded for study in Singapore since 2014. The Australia-Singapore Arts Group (ASAG), which facilitates collaboration between artists, arts groups and cultural institutions in Singapore and Australia, was created in 2016 and renewed for a second term in 2023.
Both countries work closely together on science and innovation. A Master Research Collaboration Agreement was signed in October 2022, which strengthened collaboration in and support for joint research and development. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the National University of Singapore expanded Singapore’s current synchrotron capabilities and increased collaboration and research between scientists in October 2022, through the signing of a Synchrotron Access Agreement.
Both sides regularly update and refresh the CSP to keep it forward-looking. In August 2020, Singapore and Australia signed Singapore’s first bilateral Digital Economy Agreement (SADEA) to boost bilateral cooperation in trade facilitation, digital identities, fintech, and e-payments. Both sides signed the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement (SAGEA) and launched 17 initial deliverables under the agreement in 2022. The SAGEA is a first-of-its-kind agreement that aims to catalyse economic growth and job creation in green sectors, as well as promote decarbonisation and support both countries’ green economy transition. It also serves as a pathfinder for regional cooperation in advancing trade and environmental sustainability. In 2024, both sides signed a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor MOU to accelerate maritime decarbonisation and digitalisation, and jointly developed a set of principles to guide cross-border electricity trade for the region.
Both countries are aligned on the importance of resilient supply chains. A Supply Chains Working Group was established in September 2022 to strengthen the security and resilience of our supply chains. The Working Group is exploring opportunities to strengthen trade between both markets, including in the areas of food, energy and connectivity. Under the Working Group, both sides agreed to work on a bilateral Food Pact, which will seek to increase trade in high quality food products, support Singapore as a transshipment hub, stimulate Singaporean investment into Australia and facilitate cooperation on global food security issues. Both sides have since agreed on Guiding Principles and Work Plan for the Food Pact in 2023.