Acting US Navy Secretary in Singapore for Working Visit

Acting Secretary of the United States Navy Thomas B. Modly (left) calling on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (right).

Acting Secretary of the United States Navy (USN) Thomas B. Modly, who is in Singapore for a working visit from 14 to 15 Jan 2020, called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence this morning. During their meeting, Dr Ng and Acting Secretary Modly reaffirmed the excellent and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and the US, and the close partnership between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the USN. Both sides also shared their perspectives on regional security developments, and reaffirmed Singapore's support for the USN over the last 30 years, under the ambit of the recently renewed 1990 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore.

Acting Secretary Modly also met with Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong and visited the RSN's Information Fusion Centre (IFC), where he was shown the key role that the IFC played in regional maritime security, through facilitating information sharing and collaboration among other navies, coast guards and the shipping community.

Acting Secretary Modly's visit underscores the strong defence ties between the RSN and the USN. Both navies share a strong partnership and interact extensively through a wide range of bilateral and multilateral exercises, along with other regular professional exchanges. Such interactions have enhanced the interoperability and people-to-people ties between the personnel of both navies.

Acting Secretary Modly (second from left) receiving a brief on the Information Fusion Centre's role in enhancing regional maritime information-sharing.