Celebrating 50 years of ties between Singapore and the US

NEXT week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will make an official visit to Washington, DC at the invitation of President Barack Obama. This is a rare honour. The last time a similar invitation was extended was in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan invited Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

This year, we celebrate 50 years of excellent diplomatic relations with the United States. The United States values Singapore as a reliable friend and close strategic partner in South-east Asia.

Singapore and the United States have a shared commitment to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific within an open, inclusive, balanced and rules-based regional architecture.

When we established diplomatic relations, Singapore was a newly-independent nation facing profound economic challenges and the imminent threat of militant communism. The United States' stabilising presence in South-east Asia provided security and time for Singapore and other non-communist countries in the region to develop and prosper in a free market. Investments by American companies helped to create many high-quality jobs for Singaporeans, provided access to modern technology and entry to markets in developed countries. This ga…