US - SG Defense partner

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US 'grateful' to have Singapore as security partner: Defense Secretary
By Kenneth Lim
POSTED: 03 Jun 2016 15:19 UPDATED: 03 Jun 2016 23:22

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SINGAPORE: The United States is "grateful" to have Singapore as a security partner “for cooperation and inclusiveness and principle in the conduct of international affairs”, said US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on Friday (Jun 3).

"Among the countries of the world that embody those principles, we have no better friend than Singapore, and I'm grateful for that," he said.

Mr Carter was speaking to the media after he and Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen visited the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Imagery Support Group (ISG) on Friday.

During the visit, Mr Carter was briefed on ISG operations and Singapore's deployment to the Combined Joint Task Force in Kuwait - part of Singapore's contributions to the multinational counter-ISIS coalition. The ISG supports the SAF's aid and disaster relief missions and peace support operations. It provides images, maps and intelligence reports to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF.

Following the visit, Dr Ng and Mr Carter flew on a US Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft over the Malacca Strait. According to MINDEF, the P-8 aircraft's deployment provides maritime security efforts, and support for regional aid and disaster relief, among others. This comes as part of the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding and 2005 Strategic Framework agreement between both countries.



Dr Ng Eng Hen and Ashton Carter on the P-8 Poseidon (Photo: US Department of Defense)

"We took a flight around Singapore, and I would say it underscores our shared belief that waters around this region are critical," Dr Ng said. "Thirty million barrels of oil flow through the Strait of Malacca, second only to the Strait of Hormuz; on the eastern side, the South China Sea sees equal if not greater traffic. Any instability in these critical sea lines of communication will have an enormous impact, not only in the economies in ASEAN but globally."

"There's no country and no geography in the world that compares to Singapore for the importance it has in the field of maritime security, which all of our countries everywhere in the world depend on," Mr Carter added.

He also said that the P-8 is "only one example of Singapore's wonderful hospitality" to the US. Mr Carter noted that more than a hundred US navy ships and more than 800 US aircraft transit through Singapore every year. He also spoke about the collaboration between both countries in areas like counter-terrorism efforts, anti-piracy, and cyber security, among others.

US PRESENCE HERE FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE: NG ENG HEN

But for Mr Carter, there is "a lot more we can do together" in the region, "including with China and Singapore".

"Our view is that the more everyone works together, the better," he said in response to a question on how a rising China might affect the US presence in the region. "We can only suggest that China participates, but we do stand for the principle of cooperation and a rules based order and standing up for the rule of law together and that's the basis of the US presence in this region."

Dr Ng added that Singapore's position "is very clear vis a vis the US presence in the region". "The US presence has pre-eminent power globally and in this region for the last seven decades, has provided conditions for stability. It has always been here, and it's here for the foreseeable future and will continue to be a global power," he said.

At the same time, Dr Ng added that "all of us agree that situations change, China is rising, and all of us agree it is not a zero sum game.

"The question is: How do you accommodate a security architecture for both a resident power and a rising power?" he asked. "And our meaning - not only Singapore but ASEAN and the ASEAN plus partners - it has to be an inclusive architecture. There has to be clear rules of the role, where all of us understand how we resolve disputes, whether we have the political will to resolve disputes."

Dr Ng also said Singapore has "no fantasies or delusion of the size of our influence". “What we can do is to try to speak truth to power, to say what we see as accommodating for both the interests of small and large countries, and how we can continue to maintain stability in this region," he said.

He added that one way to do is through various forums, like the Shangri-La Dialogue, which he said is "very beneficial in discussing the issues and problems that we have". This visit to the ISG is on the sidelines of the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue, which begins on Friday evening.

Both countries signed a Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2015, paving the way for closer bilateral cooperation in areas like counter terrorism.

This year is the 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the US and Singapore. In December, the two countries signed the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, which Mr Carter said was another step in the "long and enduring cooperation" between the countries in security affairs.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Carter was hosted to breakfast by Dr Ng, where both men "reaffirmed the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relations, and discussed security issues like the transnational threat of terrorism", said MINDEF.
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Do you sense a sense of pride and security or sense of threat with this?

[millenium]

So if we tio attack, how fast can USA reach n protect us?

[hobbyist]

if we tio attack, we have to rely on ourselves first.

NS or NSmen - does not matter. We defend ourselves first

[tangmulong4488]

Originally Posted by millenium

So if we tio attack, how fast can USA reach n protect us?

Nv learn lesson from ww2 mei when we under atas britain.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4

[dragon888]

bo tai chi will grateful this grateful that.....wu tai chi is di si di eh tai chi loh.....

[millenium]

Originally Posted by tangmulong4488

Nv learn lesson from ww2 mei when we under atas britain.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4

Cos I know our forces cannot fight one.

[hkh]

Got partner still better than no partner right ??

[millenium]

Originally Posted by hkh

Got partner still better than no partner right ??

That is our only hope.