US Senate Confirms Anjani Sinha as Ambassador to Singapore

The United States Senate confirmed Dr. Anjani Sinha as the next ambassador to Singapore on Tuesday, October 7. The orthopedic surgeon was approved as part of a slate of nominees in a 51-47 vote. Others confirmed include Sergio Gor as ambassador to India and Sean O’Neill as ambassador to Thailand.

Professional Background

Dr. Sinha is an East Coast-based surgeon specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine. The U.S. State Department described him as an “accomplished entrepreneur, having built multiple thriving key-man practices with specialized teams across eight locations in New York,” in addition to serving as a senior surgical consultant in Florida.

He earned his medical degree from MGM Medical School and Delhi University in India and holds a Master’s in Orthopedic Surgery.

Senate Confirmation Hearing

During his confirmation hearing on July 9, Dr. Sinha faced scrutiny over his knowledge of U.S.-Singapore trade. When asked by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth about the size of the U.S. trade surplus with Singapore in 2024, he initially stated US$80 billion, then corrected to US$18 billion. Senator Duckworth clarified that the correct figure was US$2.8 billion, noting he was “off by a huge factor.”

Despite this, Dr. Sinha expressed gratitude to President Trump for the nomination and to Secretary Rubio for support, emphasizing Singapore’s importance as a “key strategic partner and friend” in the Indo-Pacific region.

Plans as Ambassador

Dr. Sinha stated he intends to expand U.S. cooperation with Singapore in defense, security, trade, and people-to-people ties. “Close cooperation with Singapore, along with our other allies and partners in the region, is more critical today than ever before,” he said.

During the nomination process, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham highlighted Dr. Sinha’s long-standing friendship with former President Trump, noting their relationship spans over a decade.