''Cooperation and dialogue are crucial to regional and global security'' says NATO Chairman of the Military Committee
General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee participated in the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue 15th Asia Security Summit (3-5 June 16) in Singapore along with Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Thrasyvoulos Terry Stamatopoulos. The Chairman and the Ambassador took the opportunity to meet with regional Chiefs of Defence and high-level political representatives. Discussions centred on gaining a firsthand insight and greater understanding into the current regional security challenges and exchanging views on global security threats.
Speaking on the importance of the Shangri-La Dialogue, General Pavel stated that it provided an excellent forum for high-level discussions on regional security issues and an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with Nations which only “increases understanding and trust which are crucial for any cooperation and partnership”.
Meeting with Major General Perry Lim, the Singaporean Chief of Defence Force, the Chairman commended the Singaporean Armed Forces for their six year contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. General Pavel also stressed the value of the ongoing coordination between NATO and the Singaporean Armed Forces and its commitment to other international operations, especially the fight against piracy.
On the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, General Pavel also met with Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission to exchange views on strengthening NATO-China military-to-military cooperation, enhancing counter piracy coordination and China’s engagement in Afghanistan.
Regional security challenges and increased military-to-military cooperation framed the discussions between Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, Chief of the Australian Defence Force and General Pavel. The Chairman stressed “we face many of the same security challenges so it makes sense to tackle them together. In this globalised world, security is a team effort – and the bigger the team, the better”.
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was initiated in 2002 in response to the clear need for a forum where the Asia-Pacific’s defence ministers could engage in dialogue aimed at building confidence and fostering practical security cooperation.