Singapore is an important military partner for the United States in the region. The two countries regularly participate in military exchanges, training and participation in courses. At the meeting, the two countries reaffirmed their existing bilateral defence relations and discussed ways to further improve cooperation under the 1990 agreement that allows the United States to use military facilities in Singapore. Of course, the renewal of the agreement itself may reflect some of the current and future challenges for the relationship, which may also affect aspects of defence relations. For several U.S. partners, including Singapore, it was worrying that the Trump administration had tried to advance its FOIP strategy, although Trump himself raised questions about U.S. competitiveness and Washington`s commitment to freedom and openness. And for the future, Singapore could be a strong proponent of a strong U.S. security role in Asia, but several variables, including changes in Singapore`s domestic policy and changes in power relations in Asia, could also lead to changes in the amount and nature of that support, given that further renewals are being negotiated in the 2030s and 2040s. The move itself is not surprising.
As I have already said, Singapore has long been a rare example of an unalt allied supporter of a strong American security presence, ready to do so through the organization of a U.S. military presence, and it continues to view this as beneficial to its own interests and regional stability. The agreement itself is also expected to be renewed since the last one in 2005. The two sides had already agreed on this point at the beginning of the year and, given the uncertainties that are looming in the domestic policy of both sides, it would be wise to do so sooner rather than later, given that the United States will enter an election year in 2020 and Singapore will go further away from current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The contract will allow RSAF to improve access to military training in Australia. The agreement facilitates U.S. forces` access to Singapore`s air and naval bases and provides logistical support to transit personnel, aircraft and ships. In addition, over the years, Singapore has authorized Washington to use its military facilities. Although there are several facets, one of the basic agreements was the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the use of U.S. facilities in Singapore, signed by Singapore`s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and the then U.S. Prime Minister.
Vice President Dan Quayle. The United States and Singapore signed a bilateral free trade agreement on 6 May 2003; The agreement came into force on 1 January 2004.