MFA Press Statement: Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam to the United States of America: Meetings with US Senators and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, 14 May 2014

    Minister Shanmugam had meetings on the Hill with Member of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs Senator Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), Member of the Committee on Armed Service Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Near East, South and Central Asian Affairs Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia).  All reaffirmed the long-standing and excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and the US, including the considerable number of jobs created by Singapore companies such as Keppel AmFels and ST Engineering in Texas and Virginia.  Minister Shanmugam and Senator Flake also welcomed the 20^th anniversary last year of the RSAF’s Peace Carvin II F-16 detachment at Luke Airforce base in Phoenix, Arizona.  Minister Shanmugam and the Senators expressed confidence in deepening cooperation between the two countries and their respective states.  They also discussed regional and international developments, including the importance of bringing ongoing negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to a successful conclusion.                

    In addition, Minister Shanmugam met with Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on 14 May 2014.  They reaffirmed the excellent state of bilateral cooperation, and expressed commitment in enhancing law enforcement and homeland security cooperation as another component of the growing bilateral relationship.  Both sides noted the good cooperation in counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism, and welcomed the upcoming Law Enforcement and Homeland Security and Safety Cooperation Dialogue (LEHSSCD) that will be taking place in June 2014 in Washington DC.           

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

15 May 2014