Minister of National Defence Bill Blair Leads Canadian Delegation at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

Singapore – The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, concluded a pivotal visit to Singapore, where he led Canada’s delegation to the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue from May 31 to June 2. Accompanying him were General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, and senior National Defence officials. This visit underscores Canada’s commitment to bolstering its presence and leadership in the Indo-Pacific region.

During our visit, I announced the deployment of @RoyalCanNavy warships to the Indo-Pacific and RIMPAC — the world’s largest maritime exercise, where allies and partners from the Indo-Pacific bolster our interoperability and multinational relationships. pic.twitter.com/r3ColWIlRI

— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) June 2, 2024

Key Announcements

Deployment to Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC): Minister Blair announced the deployment of three Royal Canadian Navy vessels to the RIMPAC exercise. Notably, this year’s maritime component will be led by a Canadian commodore, showcasing Canada’s leadership and commitment to Indo-Pacific allies. Post-RIMPAC, HMCS Vancouver will continue its deployment through Operation HORIZON, reinforcing Canada’s renewed military mission in the region. This marks the second consecutive year of deploying three frigates annually, underlining the robustness of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Multilateral Initiative for Defence Industrial Base Resilience: Canada has joined a significant initiative for defence industrial base resilience in the Indo-Pacific, launched by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. This initiative aims to ensure a technologically advanced and resilient defence industrial base among Indo-Pacific allies.

Defence Policy Update – “Our North, Strong and Free” (ONSAF): Minister Blair highlighted Canada’s updated defence policy, ONSAF, which injects $8.1 billion over five years and $73 billion over twenty years into the military. This policy enhances Canada’s capability to operate both domestically and internationally, particularly within the Indo-Pacific.

Bilateral Meetings

Australia: Minister Blair and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles discussed their nations’ defence policies and the extensive defence collaboration, including the Five Eyes community.

China: Minister Blair met with Minister of National Defence Dong Jun, emphasizing the importance of open communication and expressing concerns over China’s military activities around Taiwan and support for Russia.

Japan: Minister Blair and Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru discussed their robust defence partnership and thanked Japan for hosting Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft monitoring North Korean sanctions.

South Korea: Minister Blair reaffirmed commitments to Korean security with Defence Minister Shin Won-sik, highlighting contributions to the United Nations Command and sanctions monitoring under Operation NEON.

Malaysia: Minister Blair and Minister of Defence Khaled Nordin explored future bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation.

New Zealand: Minister Blair and Minister of Defence Judith Collins discussed security cooperation and future defence collaboration to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Philippines: Minister Blair marked 75 years of diplomatic ties with Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro and discussed the Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year.

Singapore: Minister Blair and Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen reviewed the implementation of the Defence Cooperation Arrangement and Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Engagement with Young Leaders and Strategic Discussions

Minister Blair engaged with young leaders at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Southeast Asia Young Leaders Programme roundtable. Additionally, he participated in a policy breakfast hosted by the Cohen Group, discussing Indo-Pacific security challenges with defence leaders.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, attended by delegates from over 50 countries, remains a cornerstone of Canada’s defence diplomacy in the region. This visit marks Minister Blair’s first official trip to the Indo-Pacific as Minister of National Defence, continuing Canada’s active participation in the Dialogue since 2017.

This strategic visit reinforces Canada’s commitment to global security and its role as a proactive and engaged player in the Indo-Pacific region.