Singapore (VNA) - Singapore and the US signed a landmark deal on July 31 to study how nuclear technology can support climate and energy needs.
The agreement, commonly known as a "123 Agreement", was inked by Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the second day of the latter's official visit to the city state.
The agreement, which will enable deeper nuclear cooperation between Singapore and the US, is expected to come into force by the end of this year and will last for 30 years.
However, according to the joint statement, Singapore has not made any decision regarding the deployment of nuclear energy in this country. The agreement will also enable Singapore to collaborate with other countries that use nuclear energy technologies and designs containing components or intellectual property of US origin.
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Balakrishnan said Singapore views nuclear non-proliferation as essential to international peace and security.
He went on to say that the agreement, which needs to be ratified by the US Congress, facilitates access to information and technological expertise, and allows Singapore to deepen its engagements with civil nuclear experts in the US.
Singapore is exploring the feasibility of nuclear energy as a potential power source to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. A 2022 report on Singapore's energy future stated that nuclear energy could supply about a tenth of the country's energy needs by 2050./.
