Pentagon spokesman Maj. Pete Nguyen issued the following statement:

Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory yesterday co-hosted the 14th U.S.-Singapore Strategic Security Dialogue with Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of Defense Chan Heng Kee at the Pentagon to discuss efforts to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the United States and Singapore.

During their meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship, which is based on both countries’ shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. They noted that mutual access, including access provided by Singapore to rotating U.S. forces in Singapore and training opportunities provided to Singapore in the United States, is an important pillar of the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship.

Both sides also discussed new areas of cooperation, including the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in data, analytics and artificial intelligence, as well as advances in defense innovation.

They also exchanged views on the regional and global security situation. The United States stressed its concern about threats to international norms in the South China Sea. Both leaders pledged to continue working together to uphold international rules and norms, including through continued contributions to Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea.

PS Chan announced Singapore’s decision to support the Declaration of Principles on Indo-Pacific Defence Industrial Base Cooperation and to participate in the Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience Partnership – a multinational forum aimed at strengthening defence industrial resilience to promote safety, economic security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Both sides concluded the meeting with a discussion on multilateral cooperation. The United States thanked Singapore for its leadership in ASEAN and its support of the United States at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus.