SINGAPORE SCENESETTER FOR PM A/S HILLEN'S VISIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000201

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE SCENESETTER FOR PM A/S HILLEN'S VISIT

Classified By: A/DCM Laurent Charbonnet, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)


1. (C) I look forward to welcoming you to Singapore during
your February 6-7 visit here. Your visit comes at an
important time to:

-- thank Singapore for its diplomatic and military support
for Coalition actions in Iraq;

-- encourage Singapore to expand its role and level of
commitment in Afghanistan and Iraq;

-- brief them on our security engagement with the rest of the
region, most notably Indonesia; and

-- highlight our close security relationship and the
importance of the interoperability with our armed forces.

A Strong Partner, but not an Ally
--------------


2. (SBU) Our excellent relationship with Singapore is founded
on a convergence of views on key strategic issues and
substantial trade and investment ties. Singapore views a
strong U.S. diplomatic, military, and economic presence in
the region as essential to regional peace, stability and
prosperity. Singapore is a valuable logistics hub for U.S.
forces and seeks greater interoperability with us,
highlighted by its recent selection of the F-15SG for its
Next Generation Fighter. Singapore routinely buys the best
equipment available for its small, highly trained military
and the level of technology release is an important factor in
its procurement decisions.


3. (SBU) To expand our strong security ties, President Bush
and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong signed the Strategic
Framework Agreement (SFA) last July. As with our two-year
old Free Trade Agreement (FTA),the SFA is designed to make a
good relationship even better. To preserve its autonomy and
credibility with its neighbors, however, Singapore limits its
closeness to us. It specifically does not want to be a
treaty ally; our military leases facilities from the GOS --
there are no U.S. "bases" on the island.

Support for Iraq
--------------


4. (C) Singapore's senior leadership stresses the importance
of U.S. success in Iraq. They fear a failure there would
embolden Islamic terrorists to strike even harder in
Southeast Asia. Singapore has been a strong Coalition
partner in Iraq. It has rotated deployments of KC-135
tankers, C-130 cargo airplanes, and LSTs to support CENTCOM
operations. Singapore has not been willing, however, to
deploy ground forces. In 2004, it declined our request to
provide a unit for UN force protection in Iraq. The
Singapore Armed Forces is a professional-conscript mix, with
all Singaporean males over 18 required to fulfill two years
of national service and subject to reserve responsibilities
until age 40.

Terrorism and Non-proliferation
--------------


5. (SBU) Singapore is a reliable and highly capable partner
in the Global War on Terrorism. In 2001, the GOS uncovered a
plot by Jemaah Islamiya to bomb targets in Singapore,
including this mission. Singapore continues to view itself
as a high-profile terrorist target and its leaders are
concerned about the growth of radical Islam in Southeast Asia
and the long-term threat to secular authority.


6. (SBU) Singapore is an active member in counterterrorist
programs such as the Proliferation Security Initiative and
the Container Security Initiative and is working with
Malaysia and Indonesia to enhance maritime security in the
Strait of Malacca. We have been working with Singapore -- a
major transshipment hub -- to expand and tighten its export
controls to bring them up to world class standards. As an
IAEA board member, Singapore has supported our efforts to
press Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Regional Issues
--------------


7. (C) As a small state, Singapore routinely encourages
outside powers to take an interest in Southeast Asia and
compete, in a healthy way, for influence. This minimizes the
ability of any one state to dominate the region and gives
greater relevance to the interests of Southeast Asia. For
example, Singapore lobbied successfully for India's inclusion
in the East Asia Summit. The GOS frequently urges us to
engage more with Indonesia and welcomes our resumption of
military ties there.
HERBOLD