By Refana Juanda, SHHBIDSS
SINGAPORE, Sunday 3 June 2012 - Singapore plays host to yet another prestigious event: the 11th Shangri-La Dialogue 2012. The event was organised by the Institute of International for Strategic Studies (IISS). It is an annual event where IISS gathers prominent key speakers to discuss issues of emerging security trends affecting the region. The event was held from 1 to 3 June at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The keynote address was presented by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dr H. Susillo Bambang Yudhoyono. He outlined the significant importance of the regional security architecture whereby ASEAN centrality is assured. His Excellency also pinpointed on the growing trend of Partnership Diplomacy as we enter the 21st century.
Also presenting at the Dialogue was the United States Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Leon Panetta, who presented a paper entitled 'The US Rebalance Towards the Asia-Pacific'. Among others, the Secretary of Defense also emphasised on partnerships and alliances. Other key speakers throughout the Dialogue included ministers and academicians from invited countries and organisations.
Key messages gathered in the Dialogue included the need for collective and concerted efforts in addressing increasing regional security concerns. The regional security architecture emphasises a strategic culture of cooperation where the international community and regional organisations cooperate on the grounds of shared concerns. This can overcome the climate of mistrust and miscalculations of intentions that is prevalent in today' s security.
Many of the speakers and discussions also mentioned the outcome of the recent 6th ADMM meeting in Cambodia including Brunei Darussalam's hosting of the ADMM Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine exercises next year in an effort to enhance multilateral defence cooperation.
The Brunei Darussalam delegation was headed by the Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development) Yang Mulia Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad along with the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
At the Dialogue, both of them made a joint call on His Excellency Dr Ng Eng Heng, the Minister of Defence of Singapore. Both the Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development) and the Commander of the RBAF also met with their counterparts from Europe, Asia and the Pacific. The Commander of RBAF also made sideline calls on his counterparts from Singapore, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
The Shangri-La Dialogue has been one of the most successful event organised by IISS to date. The Dialogue was attended by prominent leaders and speakers from more than twenty countries.