Lee Hsien Loong has urged the nation to implement new methods as Washington reassesses its international function
Singapore should alter to a far much less predictable world during which the US is now not keen to “underwrite the worldwide order,” Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has stated.
Talking at a Chinese language New Yr celebration dinner on Saturday, Lee, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2024, described the present geopolitical state of affairs as “tense as ever” with “a lot uncertainty.” He attributed this to Washington shifting its focus to home challenges and reassessing its worldwide commitments beneath the brand new administration of Donald Trump.
The minister argued that the US “takes a transactional method to realize instant goals,” including that the White Home views tariffs as a key coverage instrument, a supply of exterior income, and a method to stress different nations into making concessions.
“The US is now not ready to underwrite the worldwide order. This makes the worldwide atmosphere far much less orderly and predictable,” he stated, as quoted by Channel Information Asia (CNA). He pointed to the Trump administration’s selections to withdraw from the World Well being Group and the Paris Settlement on Local weather Change.
“Singapore, like all different international locations, should adapt to this new actuality, whilst we search to keep up our sturdy ties and friendship with the US,” he added.
Singapore has traditionally maintained shut ties with Washington, notably in protection and financial cooperation. The 2 nations signed the Singapore-United States Free Commerce Settlement in 2004, making the US Singapore’s largest overseas investor. A safety settlement additionally permits American forces entry to Singapore’s navy services, and each international locations take part in annual joint workouts corresponding to Train Commando Sling and Train Tiger Balm.
Lee famous that shifting international dynamics, together with rising US-China tensions, require Singapore to diversify its financial partnerships and strengthen regional collaborations.
“US-China relations stay fraught, with elementary variations unresolved,” he stated. “In Europe, the battle in Ukraine is about to enter its fourth 12 months. Within the Center East, there may be now a brief ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and a few hostages have been launched, exchanged for prisoners. However the elementary Palestinian challenge stays unresolved – and possibly worsened.”
He warned that whereas Southeast Asia stays largely secure, tensions within the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea pose potential dangers.
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