‘Respect for American and Asian values': Trump admin makes case for Anji Sinha as envoy to S'pore

Straits Times

05-05-2025

The US Embassy in Singapore. Dr Anji Sinha's name was first announced by US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social on March 11. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM GOOGLE MAPS
'Respect for American and Asian values': Trump admin makes case for Anji Sinha as envoy to S'pore
– The likely next US ambassador to Singapore is an Indian American orthopaedic surgeon and entrepreneur from President Donald Trump's home state of Florida.
Dr Anji Sinha's name was first announced by Mr Trump in a short post on Truth Social on March 11, where he gave few clues about his nominee except to say that he was a 'highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family'.
In a more elaborate note that was released by the US Department of State on May 2, Dr Sinha was described as a pre-eminent surgeon on the East Coast specialising in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
'His appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial hub, and his own business expertise – particularly in the life sciences and healthcare sectors – render him well qualified to serve as US Ambassador to Singapore,' said the State Department in a note to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which will hold a hearing to confirm the nominee.
'With native respect for both American and Asian values, and his deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region, Dr Sinha is uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders,' the note said.
The note was a 'Certificate of Competency', which the State Department is required to present for presidential nominees to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
As reported by The Straits Times on March 15, the pick is consistent with the heavy presence of Floridians in the Trump administration that currently includes three individuals in his Cabinet and many others from the state as key aides and ambassadors nominated to other capitals.
Dr Sinha is described as an accomplished entrepreneur who has built multiple thriving practices with specialised teams across eight locations in New York.
He has also served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida, according to the note to the Senate committee that was posted by the State Department on its website.
It also said Dr Sinha had extensive experience working with both the public and private sectors, and with medical, legal and business operators across the healthcare sector.
'He has purposefully combined his medical acumen with an important empathy for his patients; and possesses an innate expertise and willingness to relate to and connect with others,' said the State Department note.
It went on to describe him as a distinguished and lifelong philanthropist in both the US and India.
'Most notably, he and his wife, Dr Kiki Sinha, have been generous benefactors of various institutions of higher education across NH and NY, as well as their medical school alma maters in India,' the note said, referring to the states of New Hampshire and New York.
Dr Anji Sinha is a graduate of MGM Medical School and Delhi University in India, with a master's in orthopaedic surgery.
He has been married to Dr Kiki Sinha, a retired anaesthesiologist and faculty member at New York University, for 48 years. They have two children – a daughter and a son – and three grandchildren.
The date for Dr Anji Sinha's hearing is yet to be given.
Bhagyashree Garekar is The Straits Times' US bureau chief. Her previous key roles were as the newspaper's foreign editor (2020-2023) and as its US correspondent during the Bush and Obama administrations.
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