PM Wong meets US War Secretary Hegseth, France’s Vautrin on sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong met top defence officials from the US and France on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue on May 29 and discussed defence ties and regional stability.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on PM Wong at the Istana, where the two reiterated their countries’ shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said in a statement on May 29.

Mr Hegseth also affirmed the US’ continued support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) training in the US, while PM Wong emphasised Singapore’s longstanding support for the US’ presence in the region.

The pair also noted the 60th anniversary of Singapore-US diplomatic relations and reaffirmed the “mutually beneficial and longstanding bilateral defence partnership between Singapore and the US”.

They exchanged views on geopolitical developments and regional security issues at the meeting, which Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo also attended.

In a post on social media platform X afterwards, Mr Hegseth said: “I am proud to reaffirm our shared commitment to maintaining deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”

In a social media post on May 30, the US Embassy in Singapore said Mr Hegseth, PM Wong and Mr Chan on May 29 reaffirmed the “central role that Singapore plays to support US efforts to enhance deterrence in the region”.

They also advanced commitments to expand US naval and air force rotational deployments in Singapore, it said.

Separately, PM Wong also met French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin, and the pair reaffirmed the “substantive and broad-based” relationship between Singapore and France, particularly in the areas of military training, defence technology and cybersecurity.

During their meeting at the Istana, they also exchanged views on global and regional security challenges, and discussed how both sides can strengthen defence cooperation, MINDEF said in a separate statement on May 29.

The ministry added: “This builds on the significant milestone achieved (in 2025) when PM Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron upgraded Singapore-France bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, as we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations.”

Mr Hegseth and Ms Vautrin are in Singapore for the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, a defence summit held at the Shangri-La Singapore hotel from May 29 to 31.

Mr Hegseth also met Mr Chan separately at the hotel on May 29, and was seen arriving for the meeting with a delegation at about 1pm.

Over lunch, the two leaders “reaffirmed the mutually beneficial and longstanding bilateral defence partnership between Singapore and the US”, MINDEF said in a statement after the meeting.

They exchanged views on global and regional security developments and discussed how both sides can strengthen defence cooperation, MINDEF said.

Mr Chan expressed appreciation for the US’ longstanding support for the SAF’s training activities in the US, as well as for the SAF’s technology access.

MINDEF said Mr Hegseth’s visit underscores the strength of the bilateral defence partnership between Singapore and the United States.

Before his meeting with Mr Chan, Mr Hegseth visited American troops on board the USS Boxer, the US’ amphibious assault ship, taking part in physical exercises with them.

A series of social media posts by the Department of War Rapid Response account on X showed him saying: “Our job is to untie your hands and let you do your job.

“And when you do your job, the adversaries know what’s coming for them. That’s when they either step up and meet the fury of the American military or back down.”

He later cited US President Donald Trump’s message to Iran during a Cabinet meeting.

“Iran can either do it the right way with a deal across the table. Or they can deal with my guy on the left, which happened to be me,” said Mr Hegseth.

“But it’s not me – it’s you guys.”

Mr Hegseth is scheduled to speak at a Shangri-La Dialogue plenary session, titled “United States’ Strategy for Peace in the Indo-Pacific”, on May 30.