While they might not be the "biggest fish", Singapore and Australia have stressed their roles as providing stability and unity in the region as it faces increasing security threats.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull began his visit to Australia's close "friend" at Kranji war cemetery on Friday morning, paying respect to Allied soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War.
He and wife Lucy Turnbull continued on to the Botanic Gardens where, with granddaughter Isla in tow, they were shown a yellow orchid named in their honour - symbolising the two countries' "blossoming and enduring friendship".
"In this region, where we face more uncertainty and more threats than we have had for many years, strong collaboration, deep engagement between Australia and Singapore and our defence forces and our, and our security agencies is more important than ever," he said during a joint press conference with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long.
Quoting Mr Lee's father and Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Turnbull said "big fish, small fish and shrimps ... they all have to get on together in the ocean".
The comments come ahead of Mr Turnbull's keynote address at a security summit where he is set to discuss the growing threat of terrorism in the region and issues like the hotly contested South China Sea.
Referring to the ongoing battle in the southern city of Marawi in the Philippines between IS-linked terrorists and government forces, Mr Turnbull said the threat of returning foreign fighters was a "very real one" in the region.
In a terrorism threat report released on Thursday, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs stated the island was a key target.
"Released terrorist prisoners in the region are also a concern. They may return to terrorism if they have not been de-radicalised. Around 200 terrorist prisoners in the region will be released from prison over the next two years."
While terrorism is a key item on the agenda, the region will also be listening closely to Mr Turnbull's address as it grapples with the "fickle nature" of American foreign policy and whether they can arely on the US to engage in ongoing security challenges, Australian National University defence and strategic expert John Blaxland told AAP this week.
When asked if President Trump's announcement to pull out of the Paris agreement would add to this uncertainty, Mr Turnbull said "the United States commitment to peace and the rule of law is an enduring one and will be an enduring one."
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