Today, the Defense Department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer and Singapore’s deputy secretary for technology signed a new statement of intent for cooperation on data analytics and artificial intelligence, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said.
Austin hosted a reinforced honor cordon and a meeting to welcome Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen to the Pentagon.
This statement of intent will strengthen interoperability and promote the responsible use of AI, Austin said.
Austin highlighted some key elements of bilateral cooperation.
Singapore is one of 29 countries currently participating in the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, exercise in Hawaii, the secretary said.
About 25,000 military personnel are taking part in the exercise, which began on June 26 and ends on August 2.
Austin thanked Ng for hosting leaders and senior military officials from nations in the Indo-Pacific region in late May and early June for the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
Also in May, the two countries signed a major memorandum of understanding on defense innovation, he said.
“This will help our two countries quickly and efficiently procure cutting-edge technology,” Austin said.
In December, the two countries finalized an agreement on supply chain security and are taking steps to strengthen its resilience, he said.
The two militaries continue to train together across all domains: land, sea, air, space and cyber. And the two nations share a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Austin said.
“Singapore remains one of our most valued defense partners, and I am proud that our defense partnership continues to strengthen,” the Secretary said.
Ng thanked Austin for his leadership within the DOD and for strengthening partnerships.
