Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen emphasizes the importance of the US presence in the Asia-Pacific region during the Aspen Security Conference in Washington D.C.
Singapore’s Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, delivered a keynote address at the opening reception of the Aspen Security Conference: DC Edition on December 7, 2023 (Singapore time). The prestigious event, held in Washington D.C., attracted over 100 distinguished leaders and key figures from the security and defence community. Attendees included members of the US Congress, policy experts, military leaders, and national security officials.
During the opening remarks, moderated by PBS NewsHour’s foreign affairs and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin, Minister Ng discussed pressing geopolitical developments and security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. He underscored Singapore’s unwavering support for the US presence in the area, tracing it back to the historical decision in 2019 to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and then-President Donald Trump for another 15 years.
Minister Ng highlighted Singapore’s belief in the virtue of America’s presence in Asia, beyond its military strength. He pointed to the historical legitimacy shaped by the US championing a globalized system, lifting both small and large nations. This included instrumental roles in international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT), and the World Trade Organization (WTO), creating avenues for the prosperity of small and emerging countries.
The Aspen Security Forum, a biannual gathering on security and foreign policy, has been an annual fixture in Colorado since 2010 and in Washington D.C. since 2021. Minister Ng’s presence in Washington D.C. from December 5 to 7, 2023, underscores the significance of the conference in fostering international dialogue on critical security issues.
Source – MINDEF
