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In a major policy departure, India will allow Singapore to station its troops in India for an extended period of time to train them independent of the Indian Army. Indian and Singapore Armed Forces have conducted joint maneuvers last October and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in January to perform armor and artillery exercises. However, the Indian Navy and the Singapore Navy hold regular exercises.

A memorandum said that Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will train in large Indian facilities in exercises and terrain that it is unfamiliar and challenging. Singapore will cover all costs incurred by the Indian Army as well as upgrading the facilities at its own cost.

Singapore and India have been growing their bilateral relationship across multiple levels:

• It told President Abdul Kalam that is considering the creation of Special Economic Zone in India

• a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is being worked to upgrade Singapore’s paltry investment in India 

• Both countries are negotiating dual taxation issues 

• Indian exports to Singapore has grown by 54% 

• The countries have successfully concluded a Free Trade Agreement

• Singapore has promoted India within the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN)

This move only signifies maturing relation between the nations and a marked degree of statesmanship by India.