SINGAPORE - Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly made his inaugural visit to Singapore Jan. 14-15 to reaffirm the U.S. Navy’s strong partnership and ties with the Singapore Armed Forces.

During the two-day visit, Modly met with Singapore’s Minister for Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen, Chief of the Defence Force, Lt. Gen. Melvyn Ong, and Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy, Rear Adm. Lew Chuen Hong. He also visited Changi Naval Base, Sembawang, and toured the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10).

Modly praised the strong U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership and thanked the nation’s senior leaders for supporting the rotational deployments of U.S. littoral combat ships and P8 Poseidon patrol craft to Singapore.

“Singapore is an important strategic partner for the United States,” said Modly. “Our military, economic and diplomatic cooperation is critical to the ongoing prosperity and security of the region."

While visiting Changi Naval Base, Modly had the opportunity to spend time with Sailors from Destroyer Squadron 7 and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), where he was briefed on missions, operations, maintenance and logistics capabilities. Modly also held an All Hands Call, where he recognized the crew’s two Sailors-of-the-Quarter.

While in Sembawang, Modly had lunch with Sailors and Marines, and later met with area commands, including Logistics Group Western Pacific, Military Sealift Command Far East, Navy Medical Research Unit-2 and Singapore Area Coordinator to highlighting the importance of forward presence to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“No region is more important than the Indo-Pacific,” said Modly. ”Here, the balance of power, and the future of the rules based order, will be determined through our efforts and partnerships.”

Secretary Modly’s visit to Singapore is part of a multi-nation visit to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility focused on reinforcing existing partnerships and visiting Sailors and Marines providing forward presence.

Destroy Squadron 7 is the U.S. Navy’s only forward deployed destroyer squadron in Southeast Asia, executing operational control and tactical control over forces assigned and rotationally deployed littoral combat ships, to ensure access to and freedom of movement within the maritime domain.

COMLOG WESTPAC is the U.S. 7th Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships to keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled, and fed.