US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth meets PM Wong, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE – US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on May 30, on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue.

Mr Hegseth called on PM Wong at the Istana, and the two leaders reaffirmed the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relations between Singapore and the US.

They also exchanged views on geopolitical developments and regional security issues, and reiterated their shared commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in a statement.

At the meeting, Mr Hegseth affirmed continued support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) training in the US, while PM Wong emphasised Singapore’s longstanding support for the US’ regional presence. Their meeting, the first between a Cabinet official from the current US administration and PM Wong, was also attended by Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, said Mindef.

Earlier in the day, Mr Chan and Mr Hegseth had a breakfast meeting, where they likewise reaffirmed excellent bilateral defence ties and the mutually beneficial partnership between Singapore and the US.

The partnership is anchored by a 1990 memorandum of understanding (MOU) that allows US military access to Singapore’s air and naval bases. The MOU was last renewed in 2019 between then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and US President Donald Trump.

The two leaders also agreed on the importance of the US’ continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific, which is vital for regional peace, stability and prosperity, said Mindef.

Mr Hegseth told Mr Chan he appreciated Singapore’s consistent support for US military presence in and engagement of the region, which includes the city-state’s facilitation of rotations by US aircraft and vessels via rotational deployments, port calls and aircraft stopovers.

Mr Chan, in turn, expressed appreciation for the US’ longstanding support of the SAF’s training in the US, and for providing the SAF with technology access, which includes the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s acquisition and operationalisation of F-35 fighter jets, Mindef added.

This was the first meeting between Mr Chan and Mr Hegseth. Mr Chan relinquished the education portfolio to become Singapore’s Defence Minister on May 23. Mr Hegseth, a former Fox News host and a veteran of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, took office in January under President Trump’s second administration.

In a Facebook post after their meeting, Mr Chan said he showed Mr Hegseth a view of the Republic from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark.

He added that both of them were alumni of Fort Benning, a US Army post in Columbus, Georgia.

Mr Chan, a former army chief, said previously that his first visit to the US was for a training stint at Fort Benning, while Mr Hegseth completed his basic military training at the army base.

“We had a good meeting where we discussed geopolitical developments and reiterated our shared commitment to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” said Mr Chan.

“We also reminisced about our time as infantry officers in our respective armies, including our memories of Fort Benning. I thanked him for the US’ strong support for generations of SAF personnel training in the US.”

In the afternoon, Mr Hegseth met Mr Chan and other South-east Asian defence ministers for an informal meeting, where he said the US believed in practical cooperation and strong partnerships underpinned by shared values.

In particular, the US Defence Secretary raised cyber security as a key emerging domain for Asean-US cooperation, and committed to enhancing cooperation with regional countries through mechanisms such as the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus.

Mr Chan welcomed the US’ commitment, underpinned by shared principles such as adherence to international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. He also reiterated the importance of frank and open conversation with the US, and leveraging the Asean-centric security architecture to promote regional peace and stability, said Mindef.

Mr Hegseth is set to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue’s first plenary session on May 31, titled United States’ New Ambitions For Indo-Pacific Security.

The annual dialogue is Asia’s premier defence summit to discuss critical security challenges in the region.