SINGAPORE (AFNS) —
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall traveled to Singapore March 22-23 where he attended the Singapore Defence Technology Summit and engaged Singaporean government and military leaders, as well as an Estonian senior defense official.
Kendall’s meetings with Singaporean leaders included Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong; Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen; Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Heng Kee; Chief of Air Force Maj. Gen. Kelvin Khong; Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service Brig. Gen. Lee Yi-Jin; and Chief Executive of Defence Science and Technology Agency Mervyn Tan.
During these engagements, Kendall reaffirmed the Department of the Air Force commitment to security cooperation with Singapore as the leaders discussed areas to strengthen and expand the defense relationship.
Kendall expressed his appreciation for the regional access Singapore provides to U.S. forces and offered continued support to Republic of Singapore Air Force personnel that train in the United States. He also welcomed the standup of a fourth branch of the Singapore Armed Forces, the Digital and Intelligence Service, noting it would offer numerous new avenues for collaboration.
Kendall additionally highlighted a first-of-its-kind partnership between the U.S. Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation team and RSAF software developers as emblematic of the increasing opportunities for U.S.-Singapore technology cooperation.
The leaders further discussed Singapore’s defense modernization efforts, including its planned acquisition of 12 F-35B aircraft, as well as future opportunities for bilateral training.
Kendall separately met with Estonian Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Kusti Salm. The two sides exchanged views on Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and the security situation in the Baltic region.
Kendall applauded Estonia’s significant military assistance to Ukraine and its leadership as a valued NATO ally. The two leaders discussed areas to advance shared priorities and agreed to explore future opportunities for security cooperation.
