Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory hosted the 14th U.S.- Singapore Strategic Security Policy Dialogue at the Pentagon yesterday with Singapore's Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chan Heng Kee to discuss efforts to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the United States and Singapore.
During their meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship, which is rooted in both countries' shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They noted that reciprocal access, including the access that Singapore provides to rotational U.S. forces in Singapore, and the training opportunities provided to Singapore in the United States, is a key pillar of the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship.
The two sides also discussed emerging areas of cooperation, including implementation of the Statement of Intent on Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Cooperation and progress on defense innovation.
They also exchanged views on the regional and global security environment. The United States highlighted concerns about threats to international norms in the South China Sea. Both leaders pledged to continue cooperation to uphold international rules and norms, including through continued contributions to Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea.
PS Chan shared Singapore's decision to endorse the Statement of Principles for Indo-Pacific Defense Industrial Base Collaboration and intention to participate in the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience — a multinational forum aimed at strengthening defense industrial resilience to promote security, economic security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Both sides closed the meeting by discussing multilateral cooperation. The United States thanked Singapore for its leadership in ASEAN and its support for the United States in the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus.
