RSN Fleet and US 7th Fleet Conducts 5th Edition of Staff Talks

Earlier this week, Fleet Commander RADM Kwan Hon Chuong met with US 7th Fleet Commander VADM Pat Hannifin as part of the 5th edition of the RSN Fleet – US 7th Fleet Staff talks. The previous iteration was conducted in 2024.

The RSN and USN interact regularly through port calls, personnel exchanges, bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Exercise Pacific Griffin, ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX) and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise.

RADM Kwan Hon Chuong (sixth from the right) and VADM Pat Hannifin (fifth from the left) along with leadership from RSN Fleet and US 7th Fleet.

Deputy Fleet Commander COL Ng Yen Meng co-chaired the 5th edition of the RSN Fleet – US 7th Fleet Staff talks with US 7th Fleet Deputy Commander RDML Kyle Gantt. During the talks, the teams reviewed the interactions between our Navies, and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and fostering linkages between our units.

VADM Patrick J. Hannifin calling on RADM Kwan Hon Chuong in the Fleet Command Building in RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base, where both commanders reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between USN and RSN, and discussed upcoming opportunities to strengthen collaboration and mutual understanding.

RADM Kwan sharing with VADM Patrick J. Hannifin about the operations of RSS Singapura - Changi Naval Base.

The RSN and USN interact regularly through leadership visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and seminars, as well as port calls and exercises.

This recent meeting reflects the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relationship between the two countries. Singapore facilitates US forces' access to our facilities for transit and logistics support, in line with the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding on US Use of Facilities in Singapore.

Singapore also regularly facilitates transits and stopovers of foreign military aircraft and ships at our facilities.