Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen to the Pentagon today in an enhanced honor cordon ceremony.
Austin said the United States values its relationships in Southeast Asia and its partnership with Singapore.
"Our countries have long stood alongside each other through numerous challenges. This past year reminded us, yet again, of the strength of our partnership," he said, referring to the
COVID-19 pandemic and the
Afghanistan evacuation.
Singapore provided aid in the form of transport aircraft and armed forces personnel, and helped to relocate over 2,000 Afghan evacuees.
"Singapore has always been a strong, ready and willing partner on global security challenges," he added.
Austin said that he and Ng will discuss opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Singapore defense partnership, including:
- Bilateral force posture initiatives.
- Expansion of joint training opportunities.
- Addressing transnational security issues, including violent extremism and cybersecurity.
The Indo-Pacific region is seeing a lot of change and challenges, Austin said. "Our partnership will remain central to preserving and expanding the region's security and prosperity."
Ng thanked Austin for his visit to Singapore in July and said he appreciated the reciprocal invitation to visit that was extended to him to visit the Pentagon.
Ng also said that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appreciated the August visit to Singapore by Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden's meeting with leaders on Oct. 26 at the U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Brunei.
ASEAN is an economic union made up of 10 member states in Southeast Asia. It promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and sociocultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.
The members of ASEAN are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.