Secretary Antony J. Blinken attended the signing ceremony for the 123 Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and the Third Country Training Program in Singapore on July 31, 2024. During his remarks, Blinken expressed gratitude to his colleague Vivian for the hospitality and fruitful discussions held during their meeting.

Blinken highlighted the significance of dialogue on critical and emerging technology between the United States and Singapore. He emphasized that both nations recognize their role in shaping new technologies that impact various aspects of life and work. "It’s imperative, indeed incumbent upon us to do what’s necessary to shape the way those technologies are used," he stated.

The economic relationship between the two countries was also a focal point. Blinken noted that the United States is the largest provider of foreign direct investment in Singapore, reflecting strong mutual trust and confidence in future collaborations.

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed at the event. The first MOU renews a third country training program aimed at building capacity throughout the ASEAN region. "We have trained nearly 2,000 government officials to help make countries more resilient, more connected, and as a result more prosperous," Blinken said.

The second MOU pertains to peaceful nuclear power under the 123 Agreement, which facilitates collaboration on civil nuclear energy development. This agreement supports both nations' ambitious net-zero climate targets and complements broader clean energy partnerships such as the U.S.-Singapore Climate Partnership and initiatives like the Green Shipping Challenge.

Blinken concluded by underscoring that these agreements strengthen not only bilateral relations but also have a positive impact on regional and global levels. "This signing makes the partnership even broader, even deeper, even more effective than it was yesterday," he affirmed.