U.S. Navy -- Today, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday met with Singapore’s Chief of Navy Rear Adm. Aaron Beng in Venice, Italy, at the Trans-Regional Seapower Symposium.

The two leaders discussed maritime security and ongoing efforts to ensure a free and open Indo- Pacific.

Gilday and Beng reaffirmed the enduring U.S.-Singapore bilateral defense relationship and reiterated their commitment to address regional security challenges.

Gilday highlighted the importance of the Singaporean navy and their geo-strategic value. He thanked Beng for hosting USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) for a port visit this summer, marking the first time the carrier has visited the country since 2019. Gilday also commended the Singaporean navy for the leadership role they had in this year’s Rim of the Pacific 2022 multinational exercise.

Gilday looks forward to traveling to the Indo-Pacific later this year, where he will attend the Western Pacific Naval Symposium.