[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 28 (Monday, July 18, 2005)]
[Pages 1153-1154]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Lee Hsien 
Loong of Singapore

July 12, 2005

    President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reaffirm 
the strong U.S.-Singapore partnership and will open a new chapter in 
strategic cooperation by signing the ``Strategic Framework Agreement 
Between the United States of America and the Republic of Singapore for a 
Closer Cooperation Partnership in Defense and Security.''
    The Agreement is a natural step in the expansion of bilateral ties. 
President Bush and then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong first announced 
their intention to conclude this agreement in October 2003. It was born 
out of a shared desire to address common threats such as terrorism and 
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which called for 
even closer cooperation between the United States and Singapore. The 
Agreement recognizes Singapore's role as a Major Security Cooperation 
Partner and will expand the scope of current cooperation in areas such 
as counterterrorism, counter-proliferation, joint military exercises and 
training, policy dialogues, and defense technology. The Agreement will 
further enhance regional stability by supporting the continued security 
presence of the United States in Southeast Asia.
    The President and Prime Minister agree that the U.S. presence in the 
region has promoted peace and stability, which are crucial for regional 
cooperation and economic development. The President and Prime Minister 
instruct their senior officials to meet to continue close coordination 
on strategic issues in the period leading up to their next bilateral 
meeting.
    The President and the Prime Minister acknowledge progress in the war 
on terror. The Prime Minister commends the President for the United 
States' resolute and steadfast stance in the war on terror and expresses 
Singapore's continued support in this endeavour.
    The two leaders welcome the successful election of the first Iraqi 
National Assembly. President Bush expresses appreciation for

[[Page 1154]]

Singapore's contributions to Iraq's reconstruction and stabilization. He 
commends the professionalism of the Singapore Armed Forces personnel who 
have been deployed in support of Iraq operations over the past two years 
and of the Singapore Police Force, which has provided critically 
important training.
    The President and Prime Minister express optimism about the outlook 
in Southeast Asia. They welcome successful elections, the strengthening 
of democratic institutions, and renewed economic growth in the region 
and agree that these trends should be encouraged. The two leaders note 
the progress countries in the region have made in disabling terrorist 
networks through enhanced cooperation among ASEAN nations and with the 
international community. The President and Prime Minister condemn the 
terrorist attacks in London and call on governments around the world to 
fight terrorism together. They agree that a sustained, long-term effort 
is needed to defeat terrorism and reaffirm their commitment to continue 
working closely on law enforcement, non-proliferation, and other 
appropriate measures to address all aspects of the war on terror.
    The President and Prime Minister express satisfaction with the 
seamless cooperation between the United States and Singapore in 
responding to the humanitarian disaster caused by the tsunamis in the 
Indian Ocean. The two leaders note the increasing importance of the 
Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI) Centre in light of 
growing concern over transnational-public-health threats such as SARS 
and avian influenza. They also note the importance of the Straits of 
Malacca, and President Bush pledges U.S. support for the region's 
initiatives for maritime security.
    The President and Prime Minister welcome the successful 
implementation of the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the growth 
in bilateral trade since it became effective on January 1, 2004. They 
express satisfaction with growing commercial ties between our two 
countries and are confident that trade and investment relations will 
continue to expand.
    The President and Prime Minister pledge to sustain the close 
cooperation between the United States and Singapore in key regional and 
global multilateral institutions. The President reaffirms U.S. support 
for ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The two leaders note the central 
role of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in supporting 
trade and investment liberalization and in promoting cooperative efforts 
to strengthen regional security. With the forthcoming first Meeting of 
the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in December 2005, they agree that 
the future development of cooperation among countries in the region 
should be open, transparent, and inclusive. The President and Prime 
Minister reaffirm the warm and strong ties between the United States and 
Singapore, which are grounded in historical cooperation, common 
interests, and shared strategic perspectives.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.