Singapore to host deployment of US Poseidon spy planes

(THESTRAITTIMES)SingaporeagreedtohostadeploymentofUSP-8Poseidonspyplanesforthefirsttime,asitsignedanenhanceddealwiththeUnitedStatesonMonday(Dec7)toboostmilitarycooperationinabroadrangeofareas,including-forthefirsttime-cyberdefenceandbiosecurity.

AjointstatementfromSingapore'sDefenceMinisterNgEngHenandhisUScounterpartAshtonCartersaidthedeploymentwouldpromote"greaterinter-operabilitywithregionalmilitariesandprovidetimelysupportforregionalHADR(humanitarianassistanceanddisasterrelief)andmaritimesecurityefforts".

Singaporehadpreviouslyplayedhosttosurveillanceaircraftfromothercountries.

USanalystsseetheabilityoftheUnitedStatestolaunchitssurveillanceaircraftasaboontoitsoperationsintheSouthChinaSea.InOctober,theUSnavyconductedacontroversialFreedomofNavigationOperationneardisputedareasinthewaters.

TheannouncementcameafterameetingbetweenthetwodefencechiefsatthePentagon,wheretheysignedtheenhanceDefenceCooperationAgreement.

AccordingtoSingapore'sMinistryofDefence,theagreementenhanceslinksinareaslikepolicyandtransnationalterrorismwhilelayingoutnewareasofcooperationinhumanitarianassistanceanddisasterrelief,cyberdefence,biosecurityandpubliccommunications.

Thepactwassignedinconjunctionwiththe25thanniversaryofa1990MemorandumofUnderstandingandthe10thanniversaryofthe2005StrategicFrameworkAgreement.

DrNgwasreceivedwithanenhancedhonourcordonatthePentagononMonday,inasignofthegrowingtiesbetweenthetwocountries.

Thehonourcordon,whichincludesamilitarybandplayingthenationalanthemofthevisitingcountry,isreservedforAmerica'sclosestallies.

Duringtheirmeeting,DrNgandMrCarterreaffirmedtheimportanceofastrongUSpresenceinAsiaPacificandtheyexchangedviewsonvariousothersecurityissues.

DrNgisvisitingWashingtonfromDec6to10.ApartfromhismeetingwiththeUSdefencesecretary,hewillmeetcongressionalleadersandhigh-rankingofficialsfromthePentagon.HeisalsoduetodeliveraspeechattheWashingtonthinktank,theCentreforaNewAmericanSecurity.