Minister for Defence and US Congressional Delegation Discuss Importance of Continued US Presence in Asia-Pacific

Minister for Defence and US Congressional Delegation Discuss Importance of Continued US Presence in Asia-Pacific.
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a United States (US) congressional delegation led by Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Ted Yoho (R-Florida) to breakfast this morning. The delegation also included Representative Terri Sewell (D-Alabama), Representative Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), and Representative David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island).

During the breakfast, Dr Ng and the congressional delegation affirmed the excellent and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and the US. Dr Ng expressed appreciation for the US' support for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in the US, and the congressional delegation thanked Dr Ng for Singapore's assistance in the recovery efforts following the collision of the USS John S. McCain and the disaster relief efforts during Hurricane Harvey. Both sides also discussed a wide range of geopolitical developments, where Dr Ng reiterated the importance of the US' engagement of the Asia-Pacific through economic and security channels.

As part of the visit, the congressional delegation also visited RSS Singapura -- Changi Naval Base yesterday, where they were hosted to a tour of the Changi Command and Control Centre. In particular, the congressional delegation visited the Information Fusion Centre (IFC), where they were briefed on the IFC's role as a key node for facilitating effective responses from partner countries to enhance maritime security through timely information-sharing. The congressional delegation also visited the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Coordination Centre (RHCC), where they were briefed on the Changi RHCC's mechanisms to organise relief efforts among partner militaries during natural disasters.

The congressional delegation is visiting Singapore from 19 to 20 October 2017.