Biden will host the Prime Minister of Singapore at the White House

WASHINGTON – Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will unveil a strategic relationship with President Joe Biden at the White House that administration officials hope Biden will pay dividends as it faces challenges in both hemispheres.

White House Press Secretary Jane Saki said Biden and Lee would discuss a number of issues during their meeting on Tuesday, including the war in Ukraine and “independence of the sea”, a key issue in a region where Beijing has territorial claims over much of southern China. Has done. The sea.

Singapore is a rare Southeast Asian country to impose sanctions on Russia over its aggression on Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions on certain exports and restrictions on financial institutions from doing business with Russian banks.

At the same time, Biden sought to deepen ties in Asia in response to China’s growing influence. The Democratic president was originally scheduled to host several national leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week, but the summit was postponed.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Singapore in August, announcing agreements on cyber security, climate change and the supply chain.