S’PORE AND US RENEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT

24sep19_news_1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/articles/diplomacy/2019/25-sep-2019/24sep19_news_1.jpg?sfvrsn=c766a73f_4 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/s-pore-and-us-renew-defence-agreement
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/s-pore-and-us-renew-defence-agreement
S’PORE AND US RENEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT
25 Sep 2019 | DIPLOMACY

S’PORE AND US RENEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT

// REPORT BY THRINA THAM

// PHOTOS BY RACHEL TENG, CHUA SOON LYE & COURTESY OF RSN & RSAF

Mr Lee and Mr Trump meeting in New York where they signed the 2019 AMOU and reaffirmed the enduring and broad-based partnership between Singapore and US in economics, defence and security.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and United States (US) President Donald  Trump signed an agreement to renew the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding United States' Use of Facilities in Singapore on 24 Sep.

The Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 MOU, or 2019 AMOU, will extend the original MOU for another 15 years.

The 1990 MOU facilitates the US' access to Singapore's air and naval bases and provides logistic support for the US' transiting personnel, aircraft and vessels. It was first signed by Singapore's founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and then-US Vice President Dan Quayle.

Under the agreement, the US has rotationally deployed fighter aircraft for exercises, refuelling and maintenance to Singapore. It has also deployed Littoral Combat Ships to Singapore since 2013 and P-8 Poseidon aircraft since 2015.

The signing of the 2019 AMOU reflects the shared belief that the US' presence in the Asia-Pacific remains vital for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

In addition to the 1990 MOU, Singapore and the US have signed other milestone agreements such as the 2015 enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement which built upon the strong defence partnership in new areas such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief as well as cyber defence.

Exercise Tiger Balm, which marked its 39th edition this year, saw a coordinated response from the Singapore and US armies to counter Improvised Explosive Devices for the first time.

Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, who is in New York from 22 to 26 Sep as part of Mr Lee's delegation, also spoke with his counterpart US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper over the phone on 24 Sep.

The defence leaders discussed the good progress of key ongoing initiatives, particularly in defence technology and military-to-military cooperation. They also reaffirmed the strong ties between the two armed forces.

Four ships and more than 600 personnel from Singapore, Thailand and the US took part in the inaugural multilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in 2017.

Over the years, Singapore and the US have enhanced cooperation in various joint and multilateral exercises.

These include Exercise Tiger Balm, the longest-running bilateral exercise between the Singapore and US armies, which marked its 39th edition this year with 800 soldiers taking part.

Other examples are the multilateral naval exercise CARAT and a large-scale air-to-air combat exercise, Exercise Red Flag – Nellis.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has been participating in Exercise Red Flag – Nellis since 1982. It clinched the Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit award at this year’s exercise.
Tags Z130
Suggested Reading
Cover story
THEY LIFT UP OUR BIG GUNS
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

Get up close with the men and machines of 24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery (24 SA), who provide a boost to our gunners to make sure they are always on time and on target.

COMMAND & STAFF COLLEGE GRADUANDS READY TO TAKE ON SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLES
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

1
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE & BROTHERHOOD
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

NS has left indelible memories for these SAF pioneers from the 8th Engineers Officer Cadet batch, who celebrate their 50th anniversary since they were commissioned in 1974.

Super Puma flight tales
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

Retired helicopter pilot MAJ (Ret) Robert Tan was among the first few batches of locally-trained Super Puma pilots. Sports car or smooth bus – guess which vehicle he likens the aircraft to?

Total Defence is a duty of every Singapore business
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

Having experienced the demanding commitments of National Service, LTC (NS) Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin and Mr Gaurav Keerthi share why it’s so important for every Singapore business to support their NSmen.

Feature
He scaled a volcano with OCS mates & wrote a book about NS
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

LTC (NS) Leow Kah Shin and his NS buddies go on an annual “Exercise Longwalk” as a commitment to do something adventurous together.

Charting their path in the skies
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

From passion to flight: Students Cherie Goh and Alexey Cher fulfilled their childhood aspirations to attain their “wings”.

CSL_4657
Armour visit Dad at work!
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

In this year’s PIONEER Kids special, MAJ Justin Tan brings his three children – Danielle, Thaddeus and Asher – on a military adventure at the Home of the Armour.

00. Opening AddnA Feature
FIRSTS AT EXERCISE WALLABY 2024
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

The biggest iteration of the SAF's largest unilateral overseas exercise also marks the debut of several new assets and training models.

1_NZ9_5388
She’s one of RSN’s first female submariners
DIPLOMACY
25 Sep 2019

With the commissioning of the Invincible-class submarine, CPT Loh Jia Yi joins the ranks of “dolphins” as one of four qualified female submariners.