Photo: Bloomberg
The Shangri-La Dialogue, which is slated to be held in Singapore from June 4 to 6, is said to be cancelled.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has cancelled the event, three days after the IISS assured Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) that it “remains committed” to organising the event.
The decision to cancel the event is supported by MINDEF, says the ministry in a May 20 statement.
"Although regretful, it is the responsible course, with the health and safety of the local community and participants as the foremost consideration," it adds. "The cancellation of the SLD in no way reflects any reduced commitment to dialogue and engagement to ensure peace and stability in Asia and beyond. MINDEF will find alternative and safer avenues for these important goals."
The dialogue would be a full in-person event "bubble" held at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Japan's prime minister Yoshihide Suga had been invited to headline as keynote speaker at the 2021 event.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin had confirmed his attendance.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the most recent keynote speaker at the 2019 event.
The event, which has been held in Singapore since its inception in 2002, was cancelled in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
See: Shangri-La Dialogue to still go on in June
This follows the cancellation of the World Economic Forum (WEF) amid the growing number of Covid-19 infections. The WEF was supposed to be held in Singapore in August.
See also: WEF cancels meeting to be held at Singapore this August amid growing Covid-19 infections
