Canada wants Singapore defence hub
4 Jun 2012 2:29 AM GMT
A proposal from Canada which would ultimately support US military shift to Asia, is being considered by Singapore. As per the proposal, Canada would set up a logistics facility in Singapore for disaster relief efforts, Singapore said on Sunday.
Canadian Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the proposal was part of Ottawa's efforts to back up the US military 'pivot' towards the Asia-Pacific region, which has irked China.
'The Canadians have proposed setting up a logistics support hub in Singapore for their regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts,' a spokesman for the Singapore foreign ministry told AFP.
We are currently studying their proposal,' he said, giving no further details.
MacKay was quoted as saying that the proposed deal with Singapore would resemble arrangements Canada has with Kuwait and Jamaica, which has given the country military footholds in the Middle East and the Caribbean.
MacKay is in Singapore along with other defence chiefs to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security conference that ended on Sunday. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the conference Washington would shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of its new strategic focus on Asia, amid China's rising influence.
Canadian Defence Minister Peter Gordon MacKay said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the proposal was part of Ottawa's efforts to back up the US military 'pivot' towards the Asia-Pacific region, which has irked China.
'The Canadians have proposed setting up a logistics support hub in Singapore for their regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts,' a spokesman for the Singapore foreign ministry told AFP.
We are currently studying their proposal,' he said, giving no further details.
MacKay was quoted as saying that the proposed deal with Singapore would resemble arrangements Canada has with Kuwait and Jamaica, which has given the country military footholds in the Middle East and the Caribbean.
MacKay is in Singapore along with other defence chiefs to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security conference that ended on Sunday. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the conference Washington would shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of its new strategic focus on Asia, amid China's rising influence.
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