US President Donald Trump has announced entrepreneur Anji Sinha as his nominee for the post of ambassador of Singapore.
“I am happy to announce that Dr Anji Sinha will be the next United States Ambassador to Singapore,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.
“Anji is a highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family!
“The United States’ relationship with Singapore is vital, and I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our Nation’s Interests, and put America First. Congratulations Anji!”
Sinha appears to be relatively little known, with no presence on websites or social media. Most observers in Washington, DC, said they had not heard of Trump’s nominee.
The other nominees for top diplomatic posts in Asia announced so far include David Perdue, a former senator from Georgia, as ambassador to China and George Glass, an Oregon businessman with a background in investment banking and real estate, to Japan.
These nominations, including Sinha’s, are subject to Senate confirmation.
Frank Lavin, a former US ambassador to Singapore (2001-2005) who helped negotiate the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, said he was delighted to hear that Trump was moving to fill up the post.
“The US-Singapore relationship is of vital importance to both nations, and it behoves Washington to seek people of excellence in its selection process.
“I have no doubt that the President has made a wise choice, and I look forward to a speedy confirmation,” he said.
During Trump’s first term, the post of ambassador stayed vacant. Initially, he nominated KT McFarland as his envoy to Singapore in May 2017.
However, her nomination faced delays and controversies in connection with a Russia investigation, leading her to withdraw her candidacy in February 2018. — The Straits Times/ANN
