ANKARA: International relations, defence, trade and investment are among issues which Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) will discuss with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Turkey starting Wednesday. Malaysian Ambassador to Turkey, Datuk Abd Razak Abdul Wahab, said the one-on-one meeting between Dr Mahathir and Erdogan will be followed by a meeting of delegates from both countries, which would take place at the Presidential Palace here on the second day of the Prime Minister’s four-day visit. He said during the visit, the Prime Minister would be accompanied by three ministers namely Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu and Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking. “Discussions maybe related to international relations such as regional issues other than the Palestinian and Rohingya issues. “Apart from that issues on defence and the defence industry will probably be discussed … [Read more...] about Dr Mahathir, Erdogan to discuss on defence, trade issues
Defence and military
Singapore and US to update and renew key defence pact
SINGAPORE - Singapore and the United States have agreed to update and renew a key pact which provides for the US security forces to use Singapore's air and naval bases, and has underpinned the US regional presence for almost 30 years. In a breakfast meeting on Friday (May 31), Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and US Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan welcomed the imminent renewal of the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the United States Use of Facilities in Singapore, as they reaffirmed the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relations. The two ministers also affirmed the need for stable defence ties between the US and China amid increasing trade tensions, and for countries in the region to work together for the security and prosperity of the region, said a media statement from the Ministry of Defence. The landmark MOU, signed in 1990 by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and then US Vice-President Dan Quayle, is to be renewed by 2020. Under this … [Read more...] about Singapore and US to update and renew key defence pact
China still top defence priority for Washington: US official
China remains a top defence priority for the United States despite mounting tensions with Iran over Teheran's missile programme and nuclear ambitions. "The implementation of the National Defence Strategy is my top priority (and) China is the priority within that National Defence Strategy," said US Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan. The US official added that this was why he is looking forward to talks with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, which begins today in Singapore. "It will be another opportunity to meet with General Wei," Mr Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday while en route to Indonesia for bilateral talks as part of his visit to Asia. "The nice thing about being able to meet face to face is that we will probably be able to talk about how do we really have an ongoing dialogue. To me, an ongoing dialogue communication is very important." His comments on China come amid testy relations between Washington and Beijing in the … [Read more...] about China still top defence priority for Washington: US official
PM Lee to speak about Sino-US ties at defence forum
The importance of stable and constructive relations between the United States and China will be the focus of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's keynote speech at an annual Asia defence forum on Friday. At the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), PM Lee is expected to highlight the role Singapore and other small states can play in bolstering the world order, amid escalating tensions between the world's two biggest economies. Trade talks between the US and China broke down in Washington earlier this month. Both sides have imposed heightened tariffs on billions of dollars worth of each other's imports. Washington has also blacklisted Chinese technology giant Huawei, restricting its dealings with US firms. PM Lee will address defence ministers, military chiefs and top-ranking defence officials at the annual dialogue organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which will take place at the Shangri-La Hotel from Friday to Sunday. He last gave the keynote address at the forum's … [Read more...] about PM Lee to speak about Sino-US ties at defence forum
Pentagon expects China to add international military bases
WASHINGTON: The US Defence Department expects China to add military bases around the world to protect its investments in it ambitious One Belt One Road global infrastructure programme, according to an official report released on Thursday (May 2).Beijing currently has just one overseas military base, in Djibouti, but is believed planning others, including possibly Pakistan, as it seeks to project itself as a global superpower."China's advancement of projects such as the 'One Belt, One Road' Initiative (OBOR) will probably drive military overseas basing through a perceived need to provide security for OBOR projects," the Pentagon said in its annual report to Congress on Chinese military and security developments."China will seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, and in which there is a precedent for hosting foreign militaries," the report said.That effort could be … [Read more...] about Pentagon expects China to add international military bases