Singapore will reassess Gulf of Aden involvement

If piracy drops, coalition will decide on military presence: Ng Eng Hen

ABOARD RSS INTREPID IN THE NORTHERN ARABIAN SEA - Singapore will reassess its involvement in subsequent multinational anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said if piracy attacks become less frequent, the Republic will join its coalition partners in "deciding when the military presence is less required".

"At least for this deployment, we will continue; whether there is a subsequent one or a few more deployments, we will see how it is," Dr Ng told reporters when he visited the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) stealth frigate on Thursday.

The RSS Intrepid, with 145 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel on board, is on a three-month mission in the Gulf and is conducting anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia.