Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Defence, Chan Heng Kee, and US Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge Colby, co-chaired the 15th Singapore-US Strategic Security Policy Dialogue (SSPD) at the Pentagon on 7 November. This annual dialogue, established in 2006, is the highest-level institutionalised policy platform between the two nations, setting the strategic direction for their defence relationship.
During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed the robust and longstanding defence partnership between Singapore and the US. Chan expressed gratitude for the US’s strong support in meeting the Singapore Armed Forces’ training and defence technology needs. Discussions included opportunities to enhance bilateral defence cooperation under the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding regarding US use of facilities in Singapore, as well as in defence technology and industrial base cooperation.
The dialogue also covered geopolitical developments, with both sides emphasising the importance of continued US engagement in the region, particularly through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus framework. Beyond high-level dialogues like the SSPD, Singapore and the US maintain regular interactions through bilateral and multilateral training exercises, such as Exercise Pacific Griffin, Exercise Tiger Balm, Exercise Valiant Mark, and Exercise Cope Tiger.
Chan’s visit to Washington DC, from 5 to 7 November, also included meetings with Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno. These engagements highlight the ongoing commitment to strengthening defence ties between Singapore and the US.
