Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Singapore’s leaders to enhance bilateral relations and signed key agreements on nuclear cooperation and technology.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held significant meetings in Singapore, engaging with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan. These discussions emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership and the mutual commitment to international norms and standards in the Indo-Pacific region.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Wong, Secretary Blinken congratulated him on his recent appointment as Singapore’s fourth prime minister. They discussed progress in areas such as critical and emerging technology, maritime security, and clean energy. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic, security, and people-to-people ties.
In his discussion with Senior Minister Lee, Secretary Blinken praised Lee’s successful tenure as Singapore’s third prime minister. The two highlighted the substantial growth in shared security, defense, and economic relations over the past two decades. They explored ways to maintain the rules-based economic and security order in the Indo-Pacific to support regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Secretary Blinken and Dr. Balakrishnan signed the United States-Singapore 123 Agreement, a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. This agreement outlines a comprehensive framework to deepen peaceful nuclear cooperation while adhering to the highest international standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation. The collaboration builds on the long-standing civil nuclear partnership between the two nations and aims to support Singapore’s evaluation of advanced nuclear energy technologies.
During the signing ceremony, Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of U.S.-Singapore cooperation in shaping the future of emerging technologies and addressing shared challenges in areas like cybersecurity, public health, and climate change. The agreements signed today signify a commitment to enhancing the bilateral partnership for the benefit of both nations and the wider region.
Source – U.S. Embassy Singapore
