Washington. November 4th. INTERFAX - The United States considers Singapore a strong and reliable partner in solving global security problems and hopes to strengthen cooperation with it in the military sphere, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.
"I hope that we will be able to discuss issues of strengthening our defense partnership, including bilateral initiatives on the deployment of forces, expanding opportunities for joint training and solving complex transnational security problems, including violent extremism and cybersecurity," the Pentagon press service quoted Austin as saying at the beginning of a meeting in Washington with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Han.
The American Minister noted that "there have been many changes and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and our partnership will continue to play a central role in preserving and expanding the security and prosperity of the region."
During Austin's working visit to Singapore in July, the defense ministers of the two countries discussed issues of expanding cooperation between the defense departments, including the deployment of the US military in Singapore, and regional security.
The ministers "pledged to continue discussing initiatives on the deployment of the US armed forces," the parties said in a joint statement following Austin's visit.
It noted that the head of the Pentagon thanked Singapore for the logistical support of American warships and aircraft.
