Context:

• The 21st edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue or Asian Security Summit, the premier defence meeting of the Asia Pacific region, concluded in Singapore on 2 June 2024. Held from 31 May to 2 June, the dialogue was attended by delegates from across the world. The forum provides a platform for discussing regional security issues, defence policies and strategic challenges. 

Important Points

Background

• The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s premier defence summit. It’s a unique meeting where ministers debate the region’s most pressing security challenges, engage in important bilateral talks and come up with fresh approaches together.

About Shangri La Dialogue

• The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is an annual “Track One” inter-governmental security conference held in Singapore.
• It’s organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an independent think tank. The forum is named after the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, where it has been held since 2002.
• The dialogue is attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs of mostly Asia-Pacific states. It serves to cultivate a sense of community among the most important policymakers in the defense and security community in the region.
• Besides government delegations, the summit is also attended by legislators, academic experts, distinguished journalists, and business delegates.
• The 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue took place in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June. The Keynote Address was delivered by Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines.

Highlights of 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue :

• The Philippines made a statement regarding the South China Sea conflict, suggesting that China and the Philippines would be ‘crossing the Rubicon’ should a Filipino citizen be killed by Beijing’s ongoing actions in the South China Sea4.
• Canada announced the deployment of a Harry DeWolf-class Arctic patrol vessel to the Indo-Pacific as part of the country’s effort to deepen its naval presence.
• The Shangri-La Dialogue has become one of the most important independent forums for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. It provides a unique platform for debate among government ministers and senior officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, on Asia’s developing security challenges.

Important Fact for Exam

International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 

• Formation: 1958
• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
• Director-General and Chief Executive: Bastian Giegerich