Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen met today in the Pentagon. Dr Ng is in the United States (US) on his first official visit to Washington as Singapore's Minister for Defence. During their meeting, Secretary Panetta and Dr Ng discussed a wide range of defence and security issues and reaffirmed the excellent and long-standing bilateral defense relationship between the United States and Singapore.

Secretary Panetta and Dr Ng underscored both countries' shared belief that a strong US presence in the Asia-Pacific enhances regional stability and security. Both ministers recognized the value of Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus and the Shangri-La Dialogue as important forums to build the confidence and mutual understanding needed to address regional security challenges. Dr Ng welcomed Secretary Panetta's commitment to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue this year. Secretary Panetta and Dr Ng also recognized the importance of practical cooperation among regional militaries, such as through military exercises and exchanges, in complementing the role of dialogue in building trust and confidence in the region.

Secretary Panetta and Dr Ng noted the substantial progress made in deepening bilateral defence cooperation since the signing of the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) in 2005. During the meeting, Dr Ng and Secretary Panetta discussed the proposal for the US to forward deploy up to four littoral combat ships (LCS) to Singapore. The LCS will be deployed on a rotational basis and will not be based in Singapore. The deployment of the LCS signals the US commitment to the region and enhances its ability to train and engage with regional partners.

Secretary Panetta and Dr Ng also agreed to increase the complexity of existing bilateral exercises, such as Exercise Commando Sling, to enhance interoperability and promote greater cooperation between both armed forces. Additionally, the US and Singapore will enhance joint urban training opportunities through the use of Singapore facilities such as the Murai Urban Training Facility. The US and Singapore will continue to explore additional joint initiatives to further operationalise the SFA and facilitate the US engagement in the region. In closing, Dr Ng expressed appreciation for US support of Singapore's training detachments in the US. Secretary Panetta expressed gratitude for Singapore's important contributions to stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, and the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden.