22nd Shangri-La Dialogue: US affirms to strengthen defense cooperation with ASEAN

On May 30, on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an informal meeting of defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States took place.

Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing (left) meets with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue on the morning of May 30. (Source: MINDEF)

At the meeting, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed common security challenges and reaffirmed Washington's strong commitment to the region, according to a press release from the Singapore Ministry of Defense .

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The United States believes in practical cooperation and strong partnerships underpinned by shared values, and will continue to strengthen defense cooperation with ASEAN countries, including through the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), he said.

Minister Hegseth raised cybersecurity as an important emerging area for ASEAN-US cooperation, such as through the ADMM Center of Excellence in Cyber and Information Security (ACICE).

Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing welcomed the US commitment to ASEAN, which is underpinned by shared principles such as adherence to international law and peaceful resolution of disputes.

He also reiterated the importance of frank and open dialogue with the United States, and taking advantage of the open and comprehensive regional security architecture, with ASEAN at the center, to promote regional peace and stability.

Mr Chan looks forward to strengthening existing cooperation with the US, as well as in emerging areas such as cybersecurity, counter-terrorism and critical underwater infrastructure (CUI) security.

On the same day, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in which the two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. This was the first meeting between a current US administration cabinet official and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

According to Singapore's Ministry of Defence, during the meeting at the Istana, Minister Hegseth and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed the good and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and the US, and exchanged views on geopolitical developments and regional security issues. Prime Minister Wong stressed Singapore's long-standing support for the US presence in the region.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/doi-thoai-shangri-la-lan-thu-22-my-khang-dinh-tang-cuong-hop-tac-quoc-phong-voi-asean-316096.html