Forum: Singapore-UK partnership more important than ever in changing world

In August, I had the honour of joining 30 veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK to mark 80 years since World War II ended in East Asia. Together we remembered all those who fought and died in one of the longest, and hardest-fought campaigns of the conflict.  

Among those who sacrificed everything were the volunteers who fought with us during the Battle of Singapore in February 1942, and the islanders who would be imprisoned and executed for their brave resistance. 

The volunteer defenders of Singapore who supported the war effort were drawn from all walks of life and professions – from teachers and journalists to pensioners and musicians.

These were selfless and fearless fighters, who signed up to defend their country and way of life as Japanese forces advanced. The defenders fought closely with British and Allied personnel to hold the island, in a display of international unity that was commonplace in the battle for Asia and the Pacific.  

Eighty years on, Singapore and the UK remain steadfast partners and friends, sharing a commitment to security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Our armed forces exercise and train together as Five Power Defence Arrangements partners – strengthening our ability to defend against the threats we face in this new era for defence.

There are few more striking symbols of our enduring partnership than the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales’ visit to Singapore in June on her voyage to Australia on the carrier strike group deployment. 

It was a powerful show of unity, and our shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.  

Our partnership is more important than ever in a changing world, where the threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War.

Technology is changing the way wars are fought and won, and cyber attacks are deployed to undermine our economies and critical infrastructure.  

This new era for defence calls for allies and partners to stand closer together to prevent conflict, uphold international law, and ensure that the horrors of the past are never repeated.

It is testament to the power of reconciliation that the UK and Singapore today count Japan as one of these partners. An important partner not just for regional security but global too, through the UK’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partnership with Japan and Italy. And a partner who, like Singapore, hosted the HMS Prince of Wales on her carrier strike group voyage.

So, as we mark 80 years since the final, formal surrender of Japanese forces in Singapore, and gather at the island’s Kranji War Cemetery to remember, we do so with sadness, but also with hope – that where there is conflict, there can one day be peace.

John Healey
UK Secretary of State for Defence