Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted Vice President of the United States of America (US) Kamala D. Harris
During US VP Kamala Harris’ with Singapore’s PM, both countries affirmed the longstanding and multi-faceted partnership between Singapore and the US. They also welcomed the announcement of new areas of cooperation as we commemorate the 55 th anniversary of Singapore-US relations.
Both sides underscored the robust Singapore-US defence relationship, anchored by the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (1990 MOU) Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore, the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement, which recognised Singapore as a Major Security Cooperation Partner, and the 2015 Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, which expanded defence collaboration across traditional and non-conventional security areas, and laid out new areas of cooperation, including in cyber defence and biosecurity. The 2019 Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 MOU allowed continued US military access to Singapore’s air and naval bases for another 15 years. Prime Minister Lee offered the deployment of the RSAF’s Multi-Role Tanker Transporters (MRTT) to assist in US efforts related to the Afghanistan evacuation.
Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also noted the excellent bilateral economic relationship. The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) continues to be a high- performing FTA which has generated substantial benefits for businesses and workers in both countries. Since the USSFTA’s entry into force in 2004, bilateral trade in goods has more than doubled. The US also remains Singapore’s top trading partner in services and Singapore’s largest foreign direct investor.
Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris welcomed the announcement that both countries are working to launch a new US-Singapore Partnership for Growth and Innovation. The Partnership will strengthen bilateral and regional collaboration on trade and investment, beginning with the four pillars of digital economy, energy and environmental technologies, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. This initiative signifies our shared commitment to strengthen growth and innovation in key economic areas. It builds on the US-Singapore Collaboration Platform MOU which was renewed in 2018. Both sides agreed to work towards concluding discussions on the Partnership later this year. Both sides also agreed to convene a high-level dialogue on supply chains, which will bring government and industry leaders together to discuss ways to strengthen supply chain resilience.
Both sides welcomed the announcement of a US-Singapore Climate Partnership. The Partnership will foster closer collaboration on climate action, environmental governance, sustainable development and low-carbon solutions. This will create opportunities for businesses and workers in green growth sectors. Key areas of cooperation include quality carbon credit markets, sustainable finance, energy transitions, clean energy infrastructure development, and sustainable transport. Both sides also looked forward to establishing consultations on green standards-setting, sustainable finance mobilisation, and financial sector climate and environmental risk management.
Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris welcomed the launch of two new programmes on “Smart Cities Professional Exchanges” and “Smart Cities Green Buildings Programme” in 2022. These programmes will facilitate closer collaboration and knowledge sharing between Singapore, the US and other ASEAN countries through the ASEAN Smart Cities Network. This will contribute to existing climate initiatives by helping cities become more sustainable through lowering emissions. Upscaling green digital solutions will also maximise the benefits of technology from the digital revolution.
Singapore and the US committed to working together to explore collaboration towards increasing regional preparedness and strengthening Southeast Asia’s collective ability to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 and future health security threats. This included epidemic intelligence and sequencing to identify new variants and provide early warning. Prime Minister Lee and Vice President Harris also recognised the importance of deepening cooperation in non-traditional security domains. Both sides welcomed the expansion of bilateral cooperation on cybersecurity with the conclusion of three MOUs between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), and respective US agencies. CSA and the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will expand cooperation in critical technologies, as well as research and development. MAS and the US Department of the Treasury will enhance information sharing, capability development and joint cross-border cyber exercises. MINDEF/SAF’s MOU with the US Department of Defense will institutionalise cyber cooperation between the two defence establishments to help build mutual understanding and facilitate information-sharing and collaboration between trusted partners in capacity-building efforts.
The MOU on Cybersecurity Cooperation between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will enhance cooperation on cybersecurity. This is the second MOU on Cybersecurity
Cooperation with CISA. The first MOU was signed in August 2016.
The MOU will establish cooperation between CSA and CISA on a range of activities,
including but not limited to the following:
- Regular information exchange on cyber threat information;
- Coordination of response to cybersecurity incidents;
Exchange of guidance on prevailing cybersecurity trends and best
practices:
- Conducting joint cybersecurity training and exercises;
- Raising awareness on cybersecurity among respective constituents;
- Cooperation in capacity building activities.
The MOU will expand into new areas of cooperation such as:
- Critical technologies
- Research and development.
