Trump nominates entrepreneur Anji Sinha as his Singapore ambassador

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump has announced entrepreneur Anji Sinha as his nominee for the post of ambassador of Singapore.

“I am happy to announce that Dr Anji Sinha will be the next United States Ambassador to Singapore,” Mr Trump said in a post on Truth Social on March 11.

“Anji is a highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family!” he added.

“The United States’ relationship with Singapore is vital, and I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our nation’s interests, and put America First. Congratulations Anji!”

Dr Sinha appears to be relatively little known, with no presence on websites or social media.

Most observers in Washington said they had not heard of Mr Trump’s nominee.

The Straits Times has reached out to the White House, the US State Department and the US Embassy in Singapore for more details.

The other nominees for top diplomatic posts in Asia announced so far include Mr David Perdue, a former senator from Georgia, as ambassador to China, and Mr George Glass, an Oregon businessman with a background in investment banking and real estate, as ambassador to Japan. These nominations, including Dr Sinha’s, are subject to Senate confirmation.

While Mr Trump’s Cabinet nominees have had quick confirmation in the Republican-dominated Congress, it might not be a straightforward process for the ambassadorial posts.

Senator Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has vowed a “blanket hold” on all the President’s State Department nominees until the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is restored as an independent agency.

The nominees require a simple majority to be confirmed in the 100-member Senate, where the Republicans have 53 senators.

Although Democrats cannot reject Mr Trump’s picks on their own, they can delay the process.

Mr Frank Lavin, a former US ambassador to Singapore (2001-2005) who helped negotiate the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, said he was delighted to hear that Mr Trump was moving to fill the post.

“The US-Singapore relationship is of vital importance to both nations, and it behoves Washington to seek people of excellence in its selection process. I have no doubt that the President has made a wise choice, and I look forward to a speedy confirmation,” he told The Straits Times.

During Mr Trump’s first term, the post of ambassador had stayed vacant.

Initially, he nominated Ms K.T. McFarland as his envoy to Singapore in May 2017.

However, her nomination faced delays and controversies in connection with a Russia investigation, leading her to withdraw her candidacy in February 2018.

Ms Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath and Mr Rafik Mansour served as charges d’affaires ad interim, representing the US in Singapore instead of a confirmed ambassador.

“It is a good sign that Singapore has got a nominee so early. Especially after many posts in the region remained empty for much of the first Trump term,” said Mr Greg Poling, who directs the South-east Asia Programme and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Mr Trump also announced on March 11 that Mr Michael DeSombre, former ambassador to Thailand and a major donor to the Republican Party, will serve as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

He will replace veteran diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink.

Mr DeSombre, a private equity lawyer, is currently a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, a global law firm.

“During my first term, Michael served as my Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, and did a great job!” Mr Trump said in his post.

Mr Poling said Mr DeSombre’s appointment was another piece of good news for South-east Asia. 

“He’ll be the first senior official on the Asia team with any real experience in the region.”