Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet (US PACFLT), Admiral (ADM) Samuel J. Paparo, called on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this morning. During their meeting, Dr Ng and ADM Paparo reaffirmed the strong and long-standing defence partnership between Singapore and the US, and the support Singapore has provided the US over the past three decades under the ambit of the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore. They also discussed initiatives to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the US PACFLT moving forward.

ADM Paparo, who is in Singapore from 7 to 8 July 2021 for his introductory visit, also called on Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong and reviewed a Guard of Honour prior to calling on Dr Ng. ADM Paparo will be visiting Changi Naval Base in the afternoon.

ADM Paparo's visit highlights the strong partnership between the RSN and the US Navy (USN), founded on the excellent defence relations between Singapore and the US. Both navies interact regularly through bilateral and multilateral exercises, professional exchanges and cross-attendance of courses. Notable bilateral exercises include the recently concluded Exercise Pacific Griffin held in the waters off Guam, and the recent passage exercise with the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in the southern reaches of the South China Sea in international waters. These regular interactions have enhanced cooperation and mutual understanding between the two navies, while deepening personal and professional ties between personnel.

Relevant health checks and safety measures were taken by the visiting delegation.