Following a two-year hiatus prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue — a major international defense and security forum — is returning to Singapore, running from Friday to Sunday.

The 19th iteration of the summit, which brings together defense ministers and senior officials mainly from across the Asia-Pacific region, will provide an opportunity to debate pressing security challenges and discuss topics of common concern, including the intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry, unresolved territorial disputes, Chinese assertiveness in the region, North Korea’s military provocations and the repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One of the highlights of this year’s event will be the participation of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as the keynote speaker. In his Friday night address, Kishida is expected to condemn the Ukraine invasion as a violation of international law and offer insight into Tokyo’s changing strategic outlook.