US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is in Singapore to attend the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD). Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing met with Secretary Hegseth, on the sidelines of SLD during a breakfast meeting this morning. 

During the meeting, Mr Chan and Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relationship and the mutually beneficial partnership between Singapore and the US, as anchored by the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore. The 1990 MOU was last renewed in 2019 between then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and US President Donald Trump. 

Mr Chan and Secretary Hegseth agreed on the importance of the US’ continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific, which is vital for regional peace, stability and prosperity. Secretary Hegseth also expressed appreciation for Singapore’s consistent support for the US’ military presence in and engagement of the region. This includes Singapore’s facilitation of rotations by US aircraft and vessels, including rotational deployments, port calls, and aircraft stopovers.

Mr Chan expressed appreciation for the US’ longstanding support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) training in the US, as well as for the SAF’s technology access, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) acquisition and operationalisation of the F-35 aircraft. Secretary Hegseth expressed the US’ commitment to support the SAF’s high-end training, and technology access. Mr Chan and Secretary Hegseth also discussed ways to further strengthen defence cooperation, and exchanged views on global and regional security challenges.

Secretary Hegseth’s visit to Singapore underscores the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relationship and the mutually beneficial partnership between Singapore and the US. Secretary Hegseth will speak at a plenary session titled “United States’ New Ambitions for Indo-Pacific Security” on 31 May 2025 during the 22nd SLD.