Department of Defense Spokesperson LTC Dave Eastburn provided the following readout:
Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan met today with Singapore Minister of Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen on the sidelines of the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ 18th Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major annual defense and security forum in the Indo-Pacific region.
During their meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship and discussed efforts to strengthen cooperation, to include regional counterterrorism cooperation. Acting Secretary Shanahan thanked Dr. Ng for Singapore’s support enabling the United States’ presence in the region and reiterated his support for the Republic of Singapore Air Force training in Guam.
Acting Secretary Shanahan reaffirmed support for Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) centrality and emphasized the important role ASEAN has to play as part of the U.S. vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Both leaders exchanged views on the regional security environment and discussed a range of mutual security interests.