Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with United States President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday and argued that international peace and prosperity was "at-risk" due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The two officials are set to discuss Indo-Pacific security, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and investment between the countries. The talks come as Lee began a week-long visit to the United States starting on Saturday.
Singapore and the U.S.
During Biden's introduction and welcoming remarks to Lee, he said that he was proud of the partnership between Singapore and the United States and argued that it was at its strongest it has ever been. The Democrat said that the two nations were working together to uphold a rules-based international order that supports the founding principles of the United Nations.
The U.S. president and the Singaporean prime minister shared a commitment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) moving forward with international policies. Biden added that he was looking forward to hosting the ASEAN leaders in Washington, D.C., for a special summit later this spring, as per CNBC.
Following their meeting, Biden and Lee issued a joint statement noting that the risk to the peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region comes as it faces many complex challenges. The statement added that the two nations need to work together to address the challenges of the 21st century.
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Lee said that Singapore was a staunch supporter of international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits acts of aggression against sovereign states. The prime minister said this was the reason why his government "strongly condemned" the unprovoked war by Russia on its neighboring nation.
According to ChannelNewsAsia, Singapore chose to impose sanctions on Russia by controlling exports and were based on principles that are fundamental to the nation's survival and existence as an independent sovereign nation. Lee said that the decisions were made because the invasion of Ukraine had implications for the Asia-Pacific region.
International Relationships
In a statement to reporters, Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine was "unacceptable" worldwide. He noted it was an attack on the "core international principles" that support peace, security, and prosperity everywhere.
The meeting between the two leaders comes as the United States continues to threaten China with "consequences" if the Asian nation offers support to Russia. The Biden administration also announced the Indo-Pacific strategy in February and committed to more diplomatic and security resources for the region.
The move aims to counter what the United States sees as China's attempts to create a regional sphere of influence. During the Tuesday event, Biden added that he wanted to make sure that the region could remain "free and open."
The United States government claims that China plans to dominate international trade routes and expand its influence. Lee said that closer ties between the U.S. and ASEAN would help the West be present in the Asia-Pacific and could deepen its relationship with allies while also strengthening strategic interests in the region, Aljazeera reported.
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