Speeches

Reception Aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)
Remarks by Ambassador Patricia Herbold
August 28, 2007

 

Thank you, Admiral Blake.

It’s both a pleasure and an honor for me, as Ambassador, to welcome the USS NIMITZ and the other ships of the NIMITZ Strike Group to Singapore.  Your Strike Group is the 20th U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier visit to Changi Naval Base since this berth was completed. 

I’m delighted that you’re able to visit beautiful Singapore after your long and arduous deployment.  You’ve been at the “tip of the spear” in countering terrorism and ensuring stability in the Gulf region, supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan, IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as Horn of Africa Operations.   You’ve also contributed significantly to activities in the Pacific Area of Responsibility, with exercise VALIANT SHIELD recently completed, and will be doing so again soon, with exercise MALABAR coming up.  To all of the men and women aboard the ships that are part of this Strike Group, thank you for your service to America and your contributions to peace.

I would also like to thank my fellow ambassadors who are here tonight, and Mr. Ito from RECAAP, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, for joining us on board this evening.

I want to extend my personal thanks to the Republic of Singapore Armed Forces for their continued hospitality, both now and throughout the year.  We appreciate the access to facilities, supplies and services that our Singapore friends provide to visiting U.S. military aircraft and ships.  Our service men and women always look forward to visiting Singapore – it’s the highlight of any deployment in this region.

The United States and Singapore enjoy a very strong security partnership.  The military of both of our countries benefit from our close military-to-military relationship.  I’m pleased that Singapore will be taking part in the upcoming MALABAR exercises, an example of the several joint military exercises in which we participate.

And I would certainly be remiss if I didn’t extend a thank you to Captain Manazir, the Commanding Officer of this magnificent ship, and his Supply Department for hosting this reception.  Even though your expertise makes it all look effortless, a lot of work goes into an event like this and we certainly appreciate your hard work.

Ladies and gentlemen, thanks to all of you for joining us on board tonight.  Please enjoy the rest of the evening.