India, Singapore pledge united fight against terror, deepen ties on 60th anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Singapore shared common concerns over terrorism, stressing that it was the duty of all humanitarian nations to fight the menace with unity.

Speaking at a joint presser with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Modi expressed gratitude towards him and his government, and said their condolences following the Pahalgam terror attack and their support in India’s fight against terrorism reflected the depth of bilateral ties.

Welcoming Wong on his first visit to India since taking office, Modi said the occasion carried special significance as the two nations mark 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.

“Last year, during my visit to Singapore, we elevated our ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In the past year, our dialogue and cooperation have gained momentum and depth. Today, Singapore is our largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with significant investments flowing into India,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister underlined that relations between the two countries extended beyond diplomacy. “This is a partnership with purpose, rooted in shared values, guided by mutual interests, and driven by a common vision for peace, progress and prosperity,” he added.

Calling Singapore a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, Modi said the two countries would continue to work together to deepen cooperation with ASEAN and advance a joint vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

He identified technology and innovation as strong pillars of the partnership, announcing that cooperation would be expanded in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and digital technologies. A new agreement in the space sector, Modi said, would open “a fresh chapter” in space science collaboration.

Singapore Prime Minister Wong echoed Modi’s remarks, saying, “We will expand cooperation in frontier areas like space. To date, more than 20 Singapore-made satellites have been launched by India. Through the MoU on promoting collaboration in the space sector, we will broaden this partnership and push the boundaries of what we can achieve together.”

On the economic front, Modi said, “We have decided that the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement and our Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN will be reviewed in a time-bound manner to accelerate mutual trade. Our states will also be important stakeholders in India-Singapore relations… GIFT City in Gujarat has become another new bridge to connect our stock markets.”

Wong highlighted Singapore’s role as India’s largest foreign investor. “Singapore accounts for around a quarter of India’s foreign direct investment inflows and our cooperation now spans a wide and diverse range of fields. Last year, PM Modi and I agreed to elevate relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This morning, we had fruitful discussions on how we can take this forward,” he said.

Both leaders also reaffirmed the importance of people-to-people contacts. “Finally, Prime Minister Modi and I reaffirmed that people-to-people ties remain the bedrock of our relationship. We agreed to enhance exchanges, including through closer civil service cooperation,” Wong said.

Wong also praised India’s recent growth story, remarking, “Over this past decade, India has made remarkable advances under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. India is now the fourth-largest economy in the world, with a dynamism and influence felt far beyond its borders.”

Looking ahead, Modi said the two nations had drawn up a detailed roadmap for the future of their partnership, which would move beyond traditional sectors. “In line with changing times, advanced manufacturing, green shipping, skilling, civil nuclear, and urban water management will also become focal points of our collaboration,” he said.