Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently visited Washington DC as part of his official visit to the United States. During his trip, he held substantive meetings with various US Cabinet Secretaries and senior members of the Biden Administration, covering a wide range of topics including national security, economics, and finance. The meetings highlighted the strong and multifaceted cooperation between Singapore and the US. DPM Wong emphasized the changing geostrategic landscape and reiterated the crucial leadership played by the US in addressing global challenges. He also expressed Singapore’s belief in the US as a key stakeholder in the region’s stability and prosperity.
One significant outcome of the visit was the launch of the inaugural US-Singapore Dialogue on Critical and Emerging Technologies. This dialogue emphasizes the shared commitment to ensuring the safe and trusted development and deployment of critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, the first-ever US-Singapore Space Dialogue took place, building on Singapore’s signing of the Artemis Accords in 2022. Both sides also expanded the Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme beyond Southeast Asia, extending it to the Pacific Islands region, demonstrating their joint commitment to the development priorities of their cooperation partners.
Another important discussion revolved around the green energy transition. Despite Singapore’s disadvantage in alternative energy sources, the country is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. DPM Wong expressed Singapore’s interest in cooperating with the US to explore the role of civilian nuclear energy in the green energy transition. This reflects Singapore’s dedication to understanding the safety and reliability of advanced nuclear energy technologies. This proposal was welcomed by Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. DPM Wong also spoke at a dialogue at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, further reinforcing the importance of the visit and the discussions held during his time in Washington DC.
Overall, DPM Wong’s visit to the United States showcased the strong and enduring partnership between Singapore and the US. The discussions covered various crucial topics, including global challenges, critical and emerging technologies, space exploration, and the green energy transition. This visit not only reaffirmed the relationship between the two countries but also opened up avenues for further cooperation in new and forward-looking sectors.
