US Defence Secretary to speak at Shangri-La Dialogue in June

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (pic ) will take part in the annual Shangri-La Dialogue from June 4 to 5 and speak on the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, the Pentagon announced.

The summit’s London-based organiser, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), added that this will mark Austin’s first trip to South-East Asia, and that on top of delivering an on-the-record speech, he will also be conducting bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines.

Cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, the Shangri-La Dialogue resumes this year as an in-person gathering of high-level defence policymakers from around the world, with an event centred on the Singapore hotel it is named after.

Austin tweeted that the event will be a “great” opportunity to discuss security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said he looked forward to working closely with Austin to ensure continued stability, peace and progress in the region, while the Pentagon chief expressed appreciation for the regional access that Singapore provides to US forces.

Austin is a former four-star general who oversaw US military operations in the Middle East under then President Barack Obama.

His nomination by current US leader Joe Biden, and subsequent confirmation in January this year, made him the first African American secretary of defence.

IISS-Asia executive director James Crabtree said on the same platform that a host of ministers from Asia, Europe and the Middle East are confirmed speakers at the event in Singapore.

The names of other speakers and attendees were not immediately available, although IISS said more details will be shared in the coming weeks.