US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III reaffirmed the US’ commitment to the Southeast Asian region in an informal meeting with ASEAN Defence Ministers at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen and other Southeast Asian Defence Ministers at an informal Southeast Asia-US Defence Ministers’ meeting held on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) today.
During the meeting, Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of sustaining a rules-based regional security environment and reaffirmed the US’ strong commitment to the region. He stated that the US would continue its engagement with Southeast Asia and enhance defence cooperation among ASEAN countries, particularly through the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus, to address shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Dr. Ng welcomed the US’ commitment and reaffirmed Singapore’s long-standing support for the US presence in the region. He expressed his anticipation for strengthening cooperation with the US through ADMM-Plus to promote peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
Source – MINDEF
