Photo: Bloomberg
The Shangri-La Dialogue will still happen in early June, says the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a statement on May 17.
The ministry made the announcement after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) informed the Singapore government that it “remains committed” to organising the event in Singapore.
The Shangri-La Dialogue was slated to take place from June 4 to 6.
See: Ng Eng Hen says Shangri-La Dialogue to resume in 2021
The dialogue has, over the years, played an “integral role in providing a significant and necessary platform in Singapore that allows top government officials and other participants from around the world to engage on key defence and security issues”.
“We are encouraged by the positive response to invitations to [the] Shangri-La Dialogue 2021, which underscore the strong commitment of government leaders in addressing security challenges even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the statement from MINDEF.
“Nevertheless, as the Covid-19 situation is fluid and continues to evolve in the run-up to the meeting, the Singapore government will continue to monitor the local and global Covid-19 situation and make the necessary adjustments. In doing so, the health and safety of everyone will be the foremost consideration,” it adds.
