US Secretary of War Reaffirms Strong Ties During Call with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
29 May 2026
United States (US) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is in Singapore to attend the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD).

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong at the Istana this afternoon, on the sidelines of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue. Credit: MDDI
United States (US) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is in Singapore to attend the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). Secretary Hegseth called on Prime Minister (PM) and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong at the Istana today. The call was also attended by Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing and Minister of State for Defence, Mr Desmond Choo.
PM Wong and Secretary Hegseth noted the 60th anniversary of Singapore-US diplomatic relations and reaffirmed the mutually beneficial and longstanding bilateral defence partnership between Singapore and the US. They exchanged views on geopolitical developments and regional security issues, and reiterated their shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Secretary Hegseth affirmed the US' continued support for the Singapore Armed Forces' training in the US, and PM Wong emphasised Singapore's longstanding support for the US' presence in the region.
