Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (PDASW) for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jed Royal concluded his visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Sherpa dialogue 18-20 January, 2026. During the dialogue, PDASW Royal reaffirmed the United States' longstanding, vital interests in the Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to deter aggression by investing in real capabilities, increasing defense spending, and enabling our defense industrial base collaboration. He underscored that the Trump administration's position of Peace Through Strength aligns with all Indo-Pacific nations' shared interest in a peaceful and secure region.
PDASW Royal also met with Singapore's Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Heng Kee and Deputy Secretary for Defence Frederick Choo. During these engagements he reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Singapore bilateral defense relationship and interest in increased future cooperation. He noted appreciation for Singapore's steadfast support for U.S. presence in the region and discussed ongoing collaboration on joint force interoperability. PDASW Royal held a multilateral discussion with Five Eye Partners as well as a quadrilateral discussion with Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Additional engagements included bilateral meetings with Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.