Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen delivered a speech at an event organised by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) earlier today (Singapore time).

Speaking at the event facilitated by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the CNAS Michèle Flournoy, Dr Ng highlighted that amidst a changing regional landscape, the US' continued presence in the Asia-Pacific was essential in ensuring continued peace and progress in the region. He explained, "Singapore has consistently believed that the US, whose presence in the Asia-Pacific is a force for regional peace and stability, plays a critical role in the security architecture of the region", and it is because of this belief that "following the closure of Clark Air Base and Subic Bay in the Philippines, Singapore signed the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US, which facilitated the US' access to our air bases and naval bases."

Dr Ng also highlighted that greater strategic trust among stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific was vital in ensuring the region's continued peace and stability and underscored the need to promote greater dialogue and practical cooperation. He noted, "As critical as the US' continued presence in the Asia-Pacific is, the US alone cannot ensure continued peace and stability. To do so, we need to build greater strategic trust among all stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific… Over the past two decades, regional stakeholders have institutionalised new platforms such as the ADMM-Plus, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum…Our defence establishments are coming together to deal with non-traditional security threats." Dr Ng cited the Malacca Straits Patrols, Singapore's Information Fusion Centre, and the upcoming ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism exercise as good examples of regional practical cooperation.

Following his speech at CNAS, Dr Ng met with Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. He will also be meeting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Ed Royce. Yesterday (Singapore time), Dr Ng also met with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker and Ranking Member Ben Cardin, as well as had a joint meeting with the Congressional Singapore Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman Denny Heck and Congressman Bradley Byrne.