Singapore, US reaffirm defence ties at bilateral security policy dialogue

SINGAPORE – Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Heng Kee and the United States Acting Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Amanda Dory reaffirmed ties between both countries when they co-chaired the 14th Singapore-US Strategic Security Policy Dialogue in Washington on Sept 13.

At the dialogue, both parties emphasised the importance of the US’ continual engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, including through multilateral platforms like the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus format. Ms Dory also expressed her appreciation for Singapore’s longstanding support of the continuing US military presence under the 1990 memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the use of military facilities in Singapore.

On his part, Mr Chan expressed appreciation for the US’ consistent support for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) training in the US, as well as the SAF’s access to technology, such as the acquisition and

operationalisation of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter

by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

He also expressed the Ministry of Defence’s endorsement of the multilateral statement of principles for Indo-Pacific defence industrial base collaboration, which sets out guiding principles for collaboration to enhance the resilience of defence industries in the region, and Singapore’s intention to participate in the partnership for Indo-Pacific industrial resilience.

Mr Chan and Ms Dory reaffirmed the two nations’ shared interest in enhancing defence technology cooperation and ensuring defence supply chain resilience. 

They welcomed the continued expansion of bilateral cooperation in new and emerging areas, such as defence innovation and critical and emerging technologies, with the recent signing of an MOU for defence innovation cooperation as well as a statement of intent regarding data, analytics and artificial intelligence cooperation.

The statement of intent signed

in July

will enable the defence establishments of both countries to discuss approaches and exchange best practices for using data, analytics and AI at speed and scale in key areas for collaboration identified by both countries, including talent management. 

It follows the MOU – signed at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue in June in Singapore – to deepen collaboration on defence innovation by using AI and autonomous systems to solve military operational challenges, among others.

Mr Chan, who is in Washington from Sept 9 to 14, also met US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks and Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall, as well as senior officials from the US National Security Council.