Overview

• During a July 9 Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Sinha misstated the US trade surplus with Singapore twice and failed to name when Singapore would chair ASEAN.
• Senator Tammy Duckworth accused him of treating the post as a “glamour” assignment and warned he was “not currently prepared” due to insufficient homework on key regional issues.
• Republican senators such as Lindsey Graham highlighted Sinha’s business credentials and longstanding personal ties to President Trump as assets for the role.
• Senate Republicans are expected to advance his nomination to a full vote, reflecting the party’s majority and the administration’s practice of awarding strategic posts to political appointees.
• Observers say the episode underscores broader tensions over political patronage versus the need for seasoned diplomats to manage a critical US alliance in the Indo-Pacific.