U.S. Embassy in Singapore -- The US Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs have agreed to renew the US – Singapore Law Enforcement and Homeland Security and Safety Cooperation Dialogue (LEHSSCD) for the third time.
Established in 2014, the LEHSSCD is an annual senior officials-level dialogue which facilitates the exchange of views and expertise on homeland security and safety issues. These include cybercrimes, financial crimes, border security, illicit trade enforcement, hybrid threats and training and capacity building. It is a key bilateral institutional mechanism that fosters strong working relationships and cooperation across Singapore and US agencies in the security sphere. The LEHSSCD has been renewed twice, in 2016 and 2019 for a period of three years each.
The most recent LEHSSCD, its 6th run, was held in Singapore from 13 to 14 July 2022. Dialogue participants engaged in substantive discussions over contemporary issues such as cryptocurrency, domestic violent extremism and scams. They also exchanged views on threat assessments and crime trends in areas such as terrorism and cybercrime. Both sides expressed interest to continue these engagements beyond the dialogue.
Recognizing the value of LEHSSCD, the US and Singapore also agreed that henceforth, the LEHSSCD shall be renewed automatically at the end of each three-year term unless any party raises objection to the renewal. This is a testimony of the strong partnership between the US and Singapore in law enforcement, homeland security and safety, and their commitment to further cooperation and collaboration, to keep their respective countries safe and secure.