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Washington, D.C. – Over the weekend, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan congressional delegation with Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific Chairwoman Young Kim (R-CA), Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) to Singapore for the 21st annual International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue. While there, the delegation met with government leaders and senior defense officials to discuss developing security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. 

“We were proud to represent the House of Representatives on a bipartisan congressional delegation to the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore,” said the lawmakers. “In meetings with our allies and partners, we reinforced our shared interest in maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait as well as the East and South China Sea. We also discussed ways to enhance our trade and technology partnerships, as well as provide economic alternatives to counter China’s malign influence in the region. The United States, alongside its allies and partners, will continue pursuing peace through strength to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Jonathan Kaplan graciously hosted the bipartisan delegation where they discussed the most pressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific amid ongoing threats from the CCP.

The Members reiterated America’s longstanding friendship with Singapore & their commitment to a free & open Indo-Pacific while visiting with Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore provided the delegation invaluable insight into the prosperous U.S. business community in Singapore. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement has yielded significant growth in bilateral trade & investment. 

The delegation met with Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan where they exchanged views on maritime security, China destabilizing the region, and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

The Members had the honor to meet with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and discussed a range of issues, including enhancing our trade and emerging tech partnerships, a civil nuclear agreement, and overall security in the region.

The delegation had a productive meeting with the newly appointed INDOPACOM commander Admiral Paparo. 

To conclude the trip, the Members also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and talked about military assistance and the current situation on the battlefield.

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