U.S.-Singapore Relations (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised April 17, 2024 |
| Report Number |
IF10228 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Emma Chanlett-Avery; Ben Dolven |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Though only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of 5.3 million, the city-state of Singapore exercises economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it leverage and a role in regional and global affairs. As the United States implements the Obama Administration’s strategic “rebalance” to Asia, Singapore is a partner in both trade and security cooperation.. At the same time, Singapore’s leaders aim to strike a balance among the region’s powers and also maintain close relations with China.
The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) went into effect in January 2004—the United States’ first bilateral FTA with an Asian country—and trade has burgeoned. In 2014 Singapore was the 18th largest U.S. trading partner, with $51 billion in total two-way goods trade, and a substantial destination for U.S. foreign direct investment. It is one of 12 nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Obama Administration’s signature economic initiative in Asia. Mutual security interests also strengthen ties between Singapore and the United States. A formal strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to access Singapore military facilities and provides the basis for U.S.-Singapore cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-proliferation, joint military exercises, policy dialogues, and shared defense technology.
