Singapore may be small but is not without agency; committed to open, stable and rules-based global system: PM Wong
Country will double down on international partnerships and is opening new diplomatic missions in Latin America, Africa in the next few years, he says
[SINGAPORE] Singapore will continue to be a safe harbour, a global emporium and a trusted hub for all, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a major speech charting out the Republic’s response to the fraying international order.
“The monsoon winds are blowing again, but we do not need to cower, and we certainly will not capitulate. We cannot control the global currents, but we can chart our own course with courage, foresight and skill,” he said at the S Rajaratnam Lecture held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
The S Rajaratnam Lecture is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ flagship event for speakers to share their insights on geopolitical developments.
PM Wong noted that Singapore today is not without agency, despite its limitations as a small state.
“We are better resourced, more capable and more connected than we were in 1965,” he said.
“We have forged strong friendships around the world. The Singapore brand is well-regarded, and we enjoy a deep reservoir of international goodwill.”
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This comes amid “deeply worrying” global developments and growing geopolitical unease, as well as increasing turbulence in the international economic system.
“We are in the midst of a messy transition globally – to what, nobody can tell,” he said.
After World War II, the US helped to rebuild the economies of its defeated enemies, established global institutions and championed free trade and open markets while promoting an international system of rules and norms – all out of its own enlightened self-interest, said PM Wong.
It was in this international context that Singapore took flight, he noted. The Republic’s prosperity has depended on a stable rules-based global order and the free flow of trade, capital, people and ideas.
But today, the international order is fraying and the conditions that sustained it no longer hold, he said.
Domestic support in America for global engagement has declined, leading to a growing impulse to turn inwards, and this shift is evident under the current US administration.
“America is stepping back from its traditional role as the guarantor of order and the world’s policeman, but neither China nor any other country is willing – or able to – fill the vacuum,” he said.
As the old order frays, a new one will eventually emerge, added the prime minister.
Singapore, despite its size, cannot afford to be a passive bystander in this evolving landscape, he said. “Instead, we must respond with agility and resolve and actively shape our destiny.”
More importantly, Singapore is not alone, he pointed out, noting that there are many like-minded countries that share the Republic’s commitment to an open, stable and rules-based global system.
Singapore’s approach
He outlined three key thrusts in the city-state’s approach, moving forward.
The first is to actively contribute to the stewardship of the global commons.
PM Wong noted that the country has consistently played a constructive role in multilateral forums, not by grandstanding but by building consensus and finding solutions.
“When we say we support international law and multilateralism, we are not just hoping for the best; we are actively working to make things happen,” he said.
He noted that the Republic can serve as an incubator for practical ideas and initiatives, as well as support other countries’ development by sharing its experience.
For example, since 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has benefited more than 155,000 officials from over 180 countries, territories and intergovernmental organisations.
Singapore will do more, said PM Wong, adding that this is why it has established a new Development Partnership in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate efforts and strengthen collaborations.
The second thrust is to champion deeper regional cohesion and integration.
PM Wong noted that Asean remains central to Singapore’s foreign policy, and more should be done to accelerate integration efforts, such as the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the development of the Asean Power Grid.
He also called for a 100 per cent tariff elimination across the region, as well as a further reduction of non-tariff barriers.
He added that when Singapore takes over as Asean chair in 2027, it will use the opportunity to deepen regional integration, and ensure that the bloc remains a vital and credible anchor for peace and prosperity in Asia.
In the third thrust, the Republic will strengthen its global network of partnerships.
PM Wong noted that the country is already plugged into major frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, but it must go further to reinforce the multilateral trading system.
He suggested pursuing greater collaboration between CPTPP and the European Union, as well as strengthening the Asean-EU Strategic Partnership.
Meanwhile, Singapore is reaching out to “new frontiers” in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, he said.
Describing the latter two, he said: “These regions are brimming with potential, but we have not fully engaged them due to distance or unfamiliarity.”
He added that Singapore will open new diplomatic missions in the two regions over the next few years. Currently, it has only two diplomatic missions – in Cairo and Pretoria – serving the entire African continent and only one in Latin America.
“We hope that this will show our friends in Africa and Latin America that Singapore is keen to do more – to trade, invest and partner with them for mutual benefit,” he said.
“Many best friends”
In a moderated discussion following his speech, PM Wong was asked how Singapore should manage its relationship with both the US and China.
He replied that even as Singapore advances its ties with both US and China, it has to be careful “not to get caught in the crossfire”.
“It will get harder, not just for Singapore, but in fact for other countries too, but we will try our best to not end up in the middle and being shot by both sides or being squeezed by both sides,” he said.
This, he noted, would require agility, vigilance and skilful diplomacy, adding that it is not just the efforts of the government alone, but that of the wider society – including the media, businesses and academia.
“In whatever we do, we always think first about what is Singapore’s interest, and take actions to uphold Singapore’s interests in a consistent and in a credible manner, and in a principled manner,” he said.
“If we are able to continue doing that, I think it will, over time, establish Singapore as a credible, trusted interlocutor, and that’s the best way for us to maintain the space to engage both players without being squeezed by both.”
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