S'pore, U.S. discuss security pact

S'pore, U.S. discuss security pact

SINGAPORE: Washington and Singapore are negotiating a "strategic"
security pact, the city-state's top security minister said on
Tuesday, a day after President George W. Bush announced a major
redeployment of its troop presence worldwide.

"We will deepen our engagement with the United States on
security," said Tony Tan, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for
Security and Defense, adding that the city-sate and Washington
were "negotiating a strategic framework" for defense.

Singapore, a close ally of Washington, regularly hosts U.S.
Navy ships and aircraft carrier at its purpose-built Changi Naval
Base. It is a staunch U.S. ally in its war on terror and sent
military aircraft and a small police training force to assist in
the rebuilding of Iraq.

"Singapore supports the presence of the U.S. military in this
part of the world. We believe the presence of the U.S. military
in Southeast Asia contributes to stability," Tan added, without
elaborating. --AP