Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House in October.
An MFA spokesman said that PM Lee called President Trump on Tuesday to express his concern and sympathies over the loss of life and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. The conversation between the two leaders took place while Trump was on Air Force One en route to Texas.
PM Lee also said that Singapore was ready to offer assistance to support search and rescue operations by deploying the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) CH-47 Chinook helicopters from its Peace Prairie detachment in Grand Prairie, Texas.
MFA said that President Trump has thanked PM Lee for his support and accepted his offer of help. According to a White House press release, Trump also appreciated PM Lee's support in the "search, rescue and recovery efforts" for the USS John S McCain that collided with an oil tanker collided off Singapore last Monday. The divers have recovered the remains of all 10 US sailors who went missing after the mishap.
Reports said that President Trump and PM Lee also discussed about North Korea's "continued and deliberate provocations", including the latest ballistic missile launch on Tuesday. PM Lee said that Singapore was "deeply concerned" and had issued a statement condemning this "reckless action".
"We strongly urge North Korea to cease all provocations immediately, and reiterate our long-standing call for North Korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments," Lee wrote in a Facebook post.
