Obama thanks Singapore PM for military cooperation Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 1:47 pm, Tuesday, April 2, 2013 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday thanked Singapore for its military cooperation as the U.S. prepares to rotate ships through the prosperous city state to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific. Obama met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the third Asian leader to visit the White House this year, as President Barack Obama pursues closer ties with countries in the region in his second term. Underscoring the Obama administration's efforts to sustain its Asian diplomacy, the foreign ministers of two U.S.