Forum: Thank you, Singapore, says US ambassador

Dear Singapore,

The United States will inaugurate its next president shortly after noon on Jan 20.

And just a few hours before that historic oath will be taken, I will quietly return home after my three-plus years as President Joe Biden’s representative here.

I will miss your Lion City greatly – its people, its food, its culture and its beauty. But I take home with me enormous gratitude, enormous pride and enormous optimism.

Thank you, Singapore.

Thank you to your far-sighted leaders for being proactive, creative and reliable strategic partners in our bilateral relationship.

Thank you to the American business community in Singapore. The more than US$424 billion (S$581 billion) of foreign direct investment is larger than the US investment in China, Japan, Korea and India combined. The US companies headquartered in Singapore, more than 6,000 strong, support thousands of workers here in the Little Red Dot and over 250,000 jobs back at home.

Thank you to the Singapore Armed Forces for facilitating hundreds of US Navy port visits per year and for purchasing F-35 aircraft and US technology that will ensure your military remains one of the most capable in Asia.

Thank you for hosting Vice-President Kamala Harris, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary Antony Blinken, and scores of US Cabinet secretaries, congressional delegations and military commanders. Your discussions about sustainable energy, space, technology, deterrence and security make our countries stronger, safer and more prosperous.

Thank you to Singapore’s hawker centres. Your delicious food has been a mainstay of my diplomacy, welcoming my visiting colleagues – and senior US leaders – to Singapore. Shiok!

Thank you for welcoming Taylor Swift and the extraordinary wave of American musicians who have performed here, showcasing Singapore’s status as an entertainment hub for South-east Asia and adding billions of dollars to the local economy.

Thank you for your sustainable green spaces. I’ve cherished my long walks at Gardens by the Bay and the Botanic Gardens.

Thank you to my Youth Advisory Council, who have allowed me to engage with Singapore’s next generation of leaders and hold hope for our future. Dream big!

Thank you to the thousands of exceptional Singaporean students studying in the United States, keeping our values aligned.

Thank you to the leadership of Singapore’s faith communities for welcoming me to your places of worship and illustrating how diverse peoples can live in harmony and with mutual respect.

Thank you to the members of the diplomatic and consular corps. It has been my honour to join your ranks. You have taught me so much.

Finally… to my Embassy Singapore team, thank you for your dedication, determination and commitment. To my partner, Karen, thank you for accompanying me in service. And to my daughter, thank you for everything. You inspire me.

Jonathan E. Kaplan
US Ambassador to Singapore