Doctor Johnny Sinha vows to deepen U.S.–Singapore ties; senators press nominee on trade and readiness

Dr. Johnny Sinha, President Trump's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Singapore, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he would work to expand defense and security cooperation and deepen economic and people‑to‑people ties between the United States and Singapore if confirmed.

Sinha highlighted his personal connection to the Indo‑Pacific and said Singapore is "a key strategic partner and a friend in the Indo‑Pacific," adding he would rely on State Department and interagency professionals to pursue defense, security and economic growth.

Committee questioning probed Sinha's readiness for a complex diplomatic post. Senator Tammy Duckworth said she doubts that Sinha was prepared for the assignment and pressed him on factual knowledge about Singapore's trade balance and regional roles. Duckworth told Sinha bluntly: "You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework." The exchange also covered possible U.S. tariff proposals, ASEAN chairmanship responsibilities, and U.S. naval cooperation with Singapore.

Sinha answered that he would prioritize establishing strong relationships with Singaporean officials, deepen defense and security ties and pursue economic dialogue. He emphasized shared professional backgrounds with Singapore leaders as a bridge for engagement and said he would work to "protect American citizens in Singapore, including our mission personnel."

The hearing did not include a committee vote; senators left the record open for additional questions.