NEW YORK — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and United States President Donald Trump renewed an agreement that is key to US military presence in the region on Monday (Sept 23) and reaffirmed the strong ties between the two nations.

The two leaders met at the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel, where they signed the Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore, also known as the AMOU.

The original memorandum, which was signed in 1990 between former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former US vice-president Dan Quayle, allows US air and naval forces to use Singapore’s bases and deploy from Singapore.

For example, the US has deployed fighter aircraft from Singapore for exercises, refueling and maintenance on a rotational basis, as well as US Littoral Combat Ships and P8 Poseidon aircraft to Singapore.

Last renewed in 2005, the 1990 MOU was due to expire in 2020. Monday’s signing extends the MOU by another 15 years.

Mr Lee said the AMOU reflects the "very good cooperation of defence matters" between the US and Singapore, as well as the broader cooperation in other fields such as in security, economics, counter-terrorism, culture and education as well. 

"So we are very happy with our relationship, we hope to grow it, and we hope that it will also be a means for the US to deepen its engagement in South-east Asia and the Asia Pacific region," he said.

Mr Trump added: "We’re signing a memorandum of defence — really, an understanding.  And it’s a very strong understanding. We know where we are. We have an extraordinary relationship with Singapore and with the Prime Minister."

Singapore is recognised as a major security cooperation partner of the US under the Strategic Framework Agreement signed by Mr Lee and former US president George Bush in 2005. The framework sets out the Singapore-US defence partnership.

In a bilateral meeting following the signing, Mr Lee led a delegation including Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore Ambassador to Washington Ashok Kumar Mirpuri, as well as Mr Lee’s principal private secretary Jeffrey Siow and his press secretary Chang Li Lin. Also present were Deputy Secretary of Defence Teo Eng Dih and director-general of the Americas Jolene Tan.

Mr Trump was accompanied by US senior officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, as well as National Security Advisor Robert O’ Brien, economic advisor Larry Kudlow, Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft and Mr Jared Kushner, who is Mr Trump’s son-in-law and senior advisor to the President.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper was not present, but had spoken with Dr Ng over the phone earlier on Monday and acknowledged the signing of the AMOU. 

Both Dr Ng and Mr Esper reaffirmed the long-standing bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and the US, as well as the importance of the US’ continued engagement of the region, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement issued during the signing.

CLIMATE ACTION

Mr Lee is in New York from September 21 to 30 on a working trip, where he will deliver Singapore’s national statement to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

Since the opening of the assembly on Sept 17, environmental issues have dominated the conversation so far. A weekend of global climate protests — including in Singapore — culminated in a New York protest march to the UN, which was led by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, 16.

Before meeting Mr Trump on Monday, Mr Lee attended the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, urging UN member countries to “redouble our efforts" to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

As a small island state, Singapore is vulnerable to global warming and sea-level rise, and the country has done its bit to mitigate climate change, said Mr Lee. Singapore is responsible for 0.11 per cent of global emissions.

 “Climate change is the ultimate global commons challenge. As leaders, we all have the responsibility to do our part to rally our people’s support for sustainable development, to convince and educate our people that these efforts are important and to safeguard our future, and the futures of our children and grandchildren,” he said.