Singapore and the United States recently signed a Security of Supply Arrangement, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a news release on Dec 7.
The bilateral, non-binding agreement enables both countries to better manage unexpected supply chain disruptions. Under the arrangement, both countries can request priority delivery of critical and urgent industrial resources to meet their defence needs, Mindef said.
The deal was signed by Mindef’s Permanent Secretary for Defence Development Melvyn Ong, and US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment William A. LaPlante.
The arrangement is a means to strengthen defence cooperation between Singapore and the US.
It also demonstrates “the longstanding and mutually beneficial defence technology cooperation between Singapore and the United States”, Mindef said.
According to a US Defence Department news release on Dec 6, the two sides had established a new defence innovation partnership in October.
It added that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen at the Pentagon on the same day.
During their meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their countries’ bilateral defence relationship.
Dr Ng expressed appreciation for the US’ support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ training and technology requirements.
These include “basing Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) training detachments in the US, as well as the ongoing acquisition of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (aircraft)”, Mindef said.
On his part, Mr Austin conveyed his appreciation for Singapore’s consistent support for the US’ military presence in and engagement of the Asia-Pacific.
The Pentagon chief also noted that “Singapore is one of the United States’ most important defence partners”, the US Defence Department release said.
Mr Austin also emphasised “the department’s support for the US-Singapore bilateral training relationship, which includes joint exercises in the region and opportunities for the Republic of Singapore Air Force to train in the United States”.
“The two officials also reiterated that the partnership between the United States and Singapore is built on common principles, underscoring their mutual commitment to supporting the security, stability and prosperity of a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the US Defence Department release said.
Dr Ng and Mr Austin also discussed geopolitical developments and regional security issues.
Dr Ng also spoke at the opening reception of the Aspen Security Conference: DC Edition, where he reiterated the importance of, and Singapore’s longstanding support for, the US’ presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
He said: “Singapore’s founding leadership believed very much that the US presence in the Asia Pacific was critical for the stability of Asia... so when the US faced the loss of Clark and Subic, Mr Lee (Kuan Yew) and the government of the day made the decision that we would offer them access to maintain a rotating presence.”
Dr Ng pointed out that this agreement was renewed in 2019 for another 15 years, and “we still continue to believe that America’s presence in Asia has been a virtuous one”.
He added that the historical legitimacy of the US’ presence in the Asia-Pacific region was not based just on its military might.
“The greater piece was America pushing for a globalised system where all boats were lifted, small and large,” he said. “And providing the instruments on an international stage – whether it was the International Monetary Fund, the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, or the World Trade Organisation – where small states, and newly emerging countries could prosper.”
The defence establishments of the two countries interact regularly, Mindef said.
These include military-to-military exchanges, training and defence technology cooperation.
For example, both countries signed an agreement in 2019 on the establishment of an RSAF Fighter Training Detachment at an air force base in the US island territory of Guam.
Also, the armies of both nations took part in an annual exercise in California in September.
