Singapore, Indonesia armies conduct annual bilateral exercise

Code-named Safkar Indopura, the 12-day combined battalion field exercise provides opportunities for both armies to build stronger bonds and deepen mutual understanding, says MINDEF. Commander 3rd Singapore Division (3 DIV) Brigadier-General Ong Tze-Ch’in (right) and Commander of Military Area I, Indonesian Army (TNI AD), Major General Lodewyk Pusung (left) at the closing ceremony of Exercise Safkar Indopura. (Photo: MINDEF) ★

About 300 army personnel from Indonesia and Singapore are taking part in an annual bilateral exercise from Oct 12 to 23, announced the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Wednesday morning (Oct 21).

The personnel are from the Headquarters 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade and 6th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment and TNI AD 7th Infantry Brigade and 121st Infantry Battalion, MINDEF said in a news release.

Code-named Safkar Indopura, the 12-day combined battalion field exercise provides opportunities for both armies to build stronger bonds and deepen mutual understanding, it said.

The ministry added that Commander 3rd Singapore Division Brigadier-General Ong Tze-Ch’in and Commander of Military Area I, Indonesian Army (TNI AD), Major General Lodewyk Pusung, were also present at the Murai Urban Training Facility to co-officiate the closing ceremony of the exercise.

First conducted in 1989, Exercise Safkar Indopura underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Indonesia, said MINDEF. Besides bilateral exercises, the Singapore Army and TNI AD also engage in a wide range of bilateral activities, including visits, professional exchanges and cross-attendance of courses.

"These interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two armies and helped foster mutual understanding between their personnel", the ministry added. [CNA/xk]

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