US SecDef Reaffirms US' Commitment to the Region at Informal Meeting with Southeast Asian Defence Ministers

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, other Southeast Asia Defence Ministers and their representatives meeting United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III this afternoon on the sidelines of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue.

The United States (US) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and other Southeast Asia Defence Ministers as well as their representatives at an informal Southeast Asia-US Defence Ministers' meeting held on the sidelines of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) today.

During the meeting, Secretary Austin spoke about sustaining a rules-based regional security environment and reaffirmed the US' strong support and commitment to the region. He said that the US will continue its engagement with the Southeast Asian region, to enhance defence cooperation amongst the countries, including through the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

Dr Ng welcomed the US' commitment to engage with ASEAN, and reaffirmed Singapore's long-standing support for the US' presence in the region. Dr Ng also looked forward to strengthening defence relations and enhancing cooperation with the US, including through the ADMM-Plus to tackle both international and regional security challenges.