Covid-19: SAF suspends major overseas exercises, including Exercise Wallaby
The Singapore Armed Forces' Exercise Wallaby is held every year in Queensland, Australia.
SINGAPORE — As the Covid-19 pandemic continues around the globe, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has suspended all large-scale overseas military exercises, including Exercise Wallaby in Australia.
This is the first time Exercise Wallaby, the SAF’s largest overseas exercise, has been suspended since it started three decades ago. This year’s edition was scheduled to take place between September and November at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia.
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement on Tuesday (May 12): “When conditions improve, Singapore may continue with smaller-scale training activities in Australia, in full compliance with their safety requirements to prevent the spread of disease.”
Mindef also affirmed its strong bilateral defence ties with Australia, and expressed appreciation for the strong support from the Australian authorities and the local communities of Rockhampton and Livingstone Shire in Queensland for SAF training over the years.
“The joint development of training areas and advanced training facilities in Central and North Queensland will deepen defence cooperation and benefit both armed forces and defence establishments for many years to come,” the ministry said.
“We look forward to future editions of Exercise Wallaby.”
Under a comprehensive strategic partnership that Singapore and Australia signed in 2015, Singapore troops can have access to a bigger training area in Australia for 25 years.
This will entail expanding existing training facilities at Shoalwater Bay as well as establishing a new training facility in Greenvale in North Queensland. In all, the area for training will be about 10 times the size of Singapore.
In line with Singapore’s circuit breaker to stem the spread of Covid-19, Mindef has also suspended basic military training for full-time national servicemen until June 1. In-camp training and the Individual Physical Proficiency Test for operationally ready soldiers have also been postponed.
