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U.S., Singapore expand military ties

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, September 12, 2000

WASHINGTON — The United States and Singapore are expanding their military relationship.

The expansion includes joint exercises and training as well as new U.S. defense sales to Singapore.

The United States and Singapore are holding a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea. The exercise began on Friday and will end on Sept. 22.

Officials said the exercise is the sixth by the two countries under a program meant to enhance interoperability in such areas as anti-mine, anti-surface and anti-air operations. On Sept. 19, a missile will be fired as part of the maneuvers.

In Washington, the Pentagon has approved a request by Singapore for an estimated $81 million of military equipment. Officials said this consists of 20 M61A1 20mm guns and 22 Global Positioning Systems.

Officials said Singapore plans to use the guns and GPS on their F-16D Block 52 aircraft. Other U.S. equipment will help maintain Singapore's fleet of F-16s. The prime contractor will be Lockheed Aeronautics Corp. of Fort Worth, Texas.

Meanwhile, the founding father of Singapore, detailed Israel's entry into the island's defense. Lee Kuan Yew said that in 1965 he agreed to Israeli help to build Singapore's military to avert an attack by Malaysia.

In his memoirs, published by the Straits Times, Lee said Britain, Egypt and India refused to help Singapore. Israel agreed.

"To disguise their presence, we called them [Israeli troops] Mexicans," Lee, prime minister until 1990 and a senior minister in the Cabinet, said. "They looked swarthy enough."

Last week, Singapore's defense minister, Tony Tan, said Israel was a leading partner in the island's defense. Singapore has budgeted nearly $4.3 billion for its defense. This amounts to 4.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.

Tuesday, September 12, 2000

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