he newly established strategic partnership between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore marks a milestone in bilateral relations, with implications extending into defense technology, maritime security and emerging technologies.
Commemorating 50 years of diplomatic ties, the agreement elevates what had long been a robust but informal partnership into a structured framework, reflecting the nations’ converging security priorities amid increasing regional tensions. ROK President Lee Jae-myung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong formalized the partnership during talks in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2025.
The defense element builds on a foundation of trust, according to Thomas Lim, a senior analyst at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. “Because defense and security matters are more sensitive and secretive in nature, a high level of political trust and goodwill has to exist as a prerequisite for defense cooperation, which the two nations already have — making the elevation of defense cooperation a natural one,” Lim told FORUM.
Bilateral defense engagement includes the Joint Steering Committee on Defense Technology Cooperation, along with a renewed agreement on verifying chemical and biological warfare agents, and new efforts to pursue joint development in areas such as microelectronics. The nations’ 2009 defense cooperation memorandum was upgraded in 2022.
A May 2025 agreement between Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency and South Korean firm Seadronix Corp. targets development of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled navigation for uncrewed surface vessels, signifying a shift toward dual-use and autonomous defense technologies. Such initiatives are bolstered by concurrent frameworks on AI governance, cybersecurity and secure communications, formalized through inter-ministerial and institutional agreements.
Technological cooperation enables deeper innovation and resilience for both countries, Lim said, and joint research and development projects “present an opportunity for both sides to gain, considering how both countries operate a mix of locally produced pieces and assets purchased from other states’ arms manufacturers.”
The convergence of defense and digital policy reflects trends in Indo-Pacific security. Both countries have advanced, conscription-based militaries and face demographic challenges that affect force structure and readiness.
The ROK and Singapore are committed to preserving freedom of navigation, regional stability and an open rules-based order — goals increasingly challenged by destabilizing behavior by authoritarian regimes, including on the Korean Peninsula and in the contested South China Sea.
According to Lim, the biggest potential for defense collaboration is in “military-to-military exchanges on a personal level, be it through more joint exercises and training, or through the deployment of personnel overseas for professional military education courses.”
The nations’ armed forces steadily have increased engagements through multilateral frameworks, including Association of Southeast Asian Nations-hosted drills and major exercises such as the United States-led Rim of the Pacific, Thailand’s Cobra Gold and Indonesia’s Super Garuda Shield. The engagements enhance interoperability, reinforce strategic alignment and cultivate partnership.