Singapore will help shape a more stable, resilient and inclusive global environment: PM Wong (2025)

SINGAPORE - Singapore is charting new frontiers and will be opening diplomatic missions in Africa and Latin America over the next few years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has also established a new Development Partnership Unit to coordinate efforts across agencies, strengthen collaborations and focus on areas where Singapore can make a meaningful impact globally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on April 16.

He outlined steps Singapore will take to navigate an increasingly fragmented and turbulent world. This comes amid the ongoing trade war between the US and China, triggered by US President Donald Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs on most of the world’s countries, including Singapore.

The Republic will move forward in three key areas: It will contribute actively to the stewardship of the global commons, champion deeper regional cohesion and integration, and strengthen its global network of partnerships, said PM Wong.

He was speaking at the S. Rajaratnam Lecture held at the Singapore University of Technology and Design auditorium.It was attended by more than 900 guests, including political office holders, senior government officials and students.

He noted that Singapore currently has only two diplomatic missions serving the entire continent of Africa – in Cairo, Egypt; and in Pretoria, South Africa – and only one in Latin America.

This, he said, is insufficient. So, Singapore is reaching out to new frontiers there, as well as in the Middle East.

The Republic will step up efforts to develop ties with Africa and Latin America – regions “brimming with potential”, but which the nation has not fully engaged due to distance or unfamiliarity.

“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.

As for the Middle East, the Gulf countries there are growing rapidly, and positioning themselves as key geopolitical players in their own right.

Singapore, which has a comprehensive partnership with the United Arab Emirates, has just upgraded its relations with Saudi Arabia to a strategic partnership. It has also institutionalised dialogues with Qatar and Oman, and will do more with not just the Gulf countries, but also other Middle Eastern partners.

Singapore will also continue to play a constructive role in multilateral forums not by grandstanding, but by building consensus and finding solutions, PM Wong said, noting that many of the world’s most pressing challenges – from artificial intelligence governance and climate change to future pandemics – require more global cooperation, not less.

He gave the example of how the Republic’s Ambassador Rena Lee led the successful UN negotiations on the High Seas Treaty on biodiversity – a landmark agreement that strengthens global governance over marine areas beyond national jurisdiction.

She has been nominated as a candidate to serve as a judge in the International Court of Justice – a reflection of Singapore’s continued commitment to the rule of law in international affairs.

Singapore can also serve as an incubator for practical ideas and initiatives, he said.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, it founded and co-chaired the Friends of the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility to promote “vaccine multilateralism”.

And, more recently, Singapore launched the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership initiative – a blended finance platform aimed at mobilising private capital to support Asia’s decarbonisation.

Given Singapore’s developmental journey, it can also support other countries’ development by sharing its experience, PM Wong said.

Its approach is centred on supporting human capital development, which it believes is the fundamental ingredient for success, he said.

It has made an impact through curated training programmes and study visits to build capacity and catalyse change. Since 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has benefited more than 155,000 officials from over 180 countries, territories and intergovernmental organisations.

With MFA’s new unit, Singapore will do more.

It will continue to focus on South-east Asia, but it will also set aside more resources for partners further afield in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean, and expand its work in new domains like the digital economy and renewable energy.

“Through these efforts, we hope to be a responsible stakeholder that helps shape a more stable, resilient and inclusive global environment,” he said.

Asean central to Singapore’s foreign policy

“In a fragmented world, regional unity matters more than ever,” said PM Wong.

“If Asean can stay cohesive and proactive, it will help all 10 members navigate geopolitical tensions and maintain our collective relevance.”

Asean’s economic integration has come a long way. Combined, it is now the world’s fifth-largest economy, he said, noting that the Asean Free Trade Area is virtually tariff-free, benefiting citizens and businesses.

“We should accelerate our integration efforts. We should aim for 100 per cent tariff elimination across the region and boost intra-Asean trade.

“And we should further reduce non-tariff barriers to make it easier for businesses to operate across Asean.”

He added that the countries should conclude the Asean Digital Economic Framework Agreement, and upgrade their free trade agreements with key partners such as China, India and the Republic of Korea.

The development of the Asean Power Grid should also be accelerated to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, helping the region to transition to green energy, draw in new investments, create better jobs and strengthen its collective energy security, he added.

Asean has also built an open and inclusive regional architecture over the decades through forums like the East Asia Summit (EAS), which brings all the major powers to the same table and gives them a stake in the region’s success, PM Wong pointed out.

There is also the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which emphasises openness, inclusivity and cooperation, and explicitly rejects zero-sum competition or dominance by any single power.

The AOIP’s vision will be translated into concrete projects and initiatives to bolster the relevance of Asean and the EAS, he said.

And when the Republic takes over the Asean chair in 2027, which will also mark Asean’s 60th anniversary, Singapore will use the opportunity to deepen regional integration and ensure Asean remains a vital and credible anchor for peace and prosperity in Asia, said PM Wong.

Also key is strengthening Singapore’s global network of partnerships.

“In this increasingly multipolar world, we must develop more varied and deeper relations with multiple partners. Because the more connected we are, the more resilient we will be – and the better we can navigate uncertainty and withstand shocks,” he said.

Economically, Singapore is already plugged into major frameworks like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and an extensive network of free trade agreements.

These give Singapore market access, and insulation against rising protectionism, he said.

Singapore must go further in reinforcing the multilateral trading system, and preserving open flows of trade and investment, he stressed.

Over the past week, PM Wong said he has spoken with counterparts from Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Britain and the European Union (EU).

“We represent different countries across different regions,” he said. “But we all agreed on one thing: The world needs more cooperation, not less. And we must not retreat into protectionism or isolationism.”

One idea the countries are pursuing is greater collaboration between the CPTPP and the EU, he said.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between countries such as Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile and Japan.

Britain is already in the CPTPP, and there are several economies keen to join as members.

The CPTPP and the EU combined represent around 30 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product.

A formal partnership between the two entities can facilitate trade and investment flows, and help to uphold the key principles of the rules-based trading system.

Another idea is to strengthen the Asean-EU Strategic Partnership, PM Wong said.

The EU has been a dialogue partner of Asean since 1977. It already has free trade agreements with Singapore and Vietnam, and is pursuing trade arrangements with other Asean countries.

Deeper collaboration between both regions on concrete projects can help them make progress towards the longer-term goal of an Asean-EU free trade agreement, and unlock the potential of their combined market of more than one billion people, he said.

Beyond economic partnerships, Singapore is also deepening and expanding strategic partnerships with like-minded countries, including Australia, New Zealand, India, France, Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Britain and Vietnam.

“So, Singapore will continue to be a safe harbour, a global emporium and a trusted hub for all sides to engage,” said PM Wong.

“In so doing, we will ensure that our people can earn a good living, and generate products, ideas and contributions that bring value to ourselves, and also to the world.”

• Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.

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