Singapore and US Strengthen Defence Relations through Strategic Security Policy Dialogue

Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Heng Kee with the United States Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl during the 12th Singapore-US Strategic Security Policy Dialogue.

Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Heng Kee and the United States (US) Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl co-chaired the 12th Singapore-US Strategic Security Policy Dialogue (SSPD) at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. today. Established in 2006, the dialogue is the highest-level institutionalised security platform between both countries' defence establishments, and has served as a key platform to set the strategic direction for the Singapore-US bilateral defence relationship.

During the dialogue, Mr Chan and Dr. Kahl reaffirmed the excellent bilateral defence relationship and mutually-beneficial partnership between Singapore and the US. Both sides discussed opportunities to enhance bilateral defence cooperation under the ambit of the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the United States Use of Facilities and through the US' support for the SAF's overseas training, as well as in non-conventional security areas, such as cyber defence and climate resilience. They also exchanged views on geopolitical developments and affirmed the need for all countries to work collectively for the security and prosperity of the region, including within the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus framework.

High level touchpoints like the SSPD complement the regular Singapore-US military-to-military exchanges and training, cross-attendance of courses and substantive defence technology cooperation.

Mr Chan, who is in Washington, D.C. from 2 to 6 October 2022 also met Secretary of Air Force Mr Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Navy Mr Carlos Del Toro and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Ms Heidi Shyu, as well as senior officials from the National Security Council and experts from various think tanks.