S’pore ‘is not without agency’, has built capabilities and is stronger: PM Wong on global landscape (2025)

SINGAPORE - Despite its limitations as a small state whose prosperity has depended on a global order that is now fraying, Singapore cannot afford to be a passive bystander in an evolving landscape and must actively shape its own destiny, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“Singapore today is not without agency,” he said, of how the Republic is not the same country it was when it first became independent 60 years ago. “We are better resourced, more capable, more connected than we were in 1965.”

While it is once again in uncharted waters and still has no natural resources, the city state has built deep capabilities, financial reserves, and is stronger and more resilient, said PM Wong.

Singapore will therefore respond to the global transition that is under way with agility and resolve, and will actively shape its own destiny, he said in a speech that detailed the steps his Government will take to navigate an increasingly fragmented world.

Delivering the 14th S. Rajaratnam Lecture, PM Wong said Singapore will do so in three ways: by contributing actively to the stewardship of the global commons; championing deeper regional integration; and strengthening its global network of partnerships.

“We have forged strong friendships around the world. The Singapore brand is well regarded, and we enjoy a deep reservoir of international goodwill,” he told an audience of more than 900 guests, including senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps, at the Singapore University of Technology and Design on April 16.

More importantly, Singapore is not alone, he said at the lecture, an annual platform organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for distinguished public figures to speak on topics related to diplomacy and international relations.

It will work with like-minded countries that share its commitment to an open, stable and rules-based global system, and together they canlay the groundwork for a more stable global order to emerge in the coming years.

PM Wong said Singapore has consistently played a constructive role in multilateral forums, and it has done so not by grandstanding but by building consensus and finding solutions.

The Singapore Cooperation Programme, through which the Republic shares its developmental know-how, has benefited more than 155,000 officials from 180 countries, he added.

To do more in these challenging times, a new development partnership unit will be set up in the MFA. While the focus will still be on South-east Asia, more resources will be set aside for partners farther afield, including in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean.

New domains will also be added, such as 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.

To deepen regional integration, Singapore will aim for 100 per cent tariff elimination within Asean, and to further reduce non-tariff barriers to make it easier for firms to operate across borders.

PM Wong said Singapore is working with Malaysia, which is the current Asean chair, and East Asia Summit partners to bolster the relevance of the regional architecture through concrete projects.

When Singapore takes over the revolving chairmanship in 2027 – which also marks Asean’s 60th anniversary – PM Wong said it will endeavour to deepen regional integration and ensure the group remains a vital and credible anchor for peace and prosperity in Asia.

A multipolar world means Singapore must develop more varied and deeper relations with a range of partners, he added.

This means that while it is already plugged into major agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Singapore has to go further in order to preserve open flows of trade and investment.

PM Wong said he had spoken with counterparts from Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the European Union in the past week, and the consensus was the need for more cooperation, not less. Ideas being pursued include greater cooperation between the CPTPP and the EU, which together account for 30 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product.

Singapore will also open new diplomatic missions in Africa and Latin America in the next few years, while stepping up engagements with the Gulf countries and other Middle Eastern partners.

Summing up, PM Wong said Singapore had used the past 60 years to build its capabilities, and to find innovative ways to overcome its lack of critical resources.

The Republic also recognised from the start the importance of defence and homeland security, and consistently invested in these areas while other countries scaled back conscription or cut back on defence spending.

“Singaporeans know that if we are ever threatened, no one will come to our rescue,” he said. “No one else will safeguard Singapore’s interest or secure our future for us. We can only depend on ourselves.”

PM Wong said that after 60 years of nationhood, Singaporeans are more well travelled and well informed and want to know how the Government is responding to global developments.

There will naturally be differences in views and opinions, which is a sign of a healthy and mature citizenship. But he urged Singaporeans to never let their diversity become a source of division.

“In an increasingly fractious and polarised world, we must hold fast to what binds us together – a sense of mutual respect, shared purpose, and the conviction that what unites us is far stronger than anything that can divide us,” he said.

“Ultimately, Singapore’s survival and success in this uncertain world will not rest only on the actions of its leaders or the efforts of our diplomats abroad, capable as they are... In the end, it depends on all of us as Singaporeans – our belief in our nation, and our shared sense of responsibility to protect our home and our fellow citizens.”

While Singapore is an island, its people cannot have an island mentality that is inward-looking and closed off, stressed PM Wong.

For centuries, Singapore served as a safe harbour and natural meeting point for cultures, commerce and exchange, whether in its incarnation as Temasek, as an entrepot in the British Empire, or today’s sovereign global city state.

In the past, ships traversing the region were at the mercy of monsoon winds, which brought rough seas and unpredictable weather, noted PM Wong. This meant ships often had to find safe harbour to wait for favourable weather, which brought sailors, traders and immigrants from China, India, the Malay Archipelago and the Middle East to Singapore.

“The monsoon winds are blowing again. But we do not need to cower, and we certainly will not capitulate,” he said. “We cannot control the global currents, but we can chart our own course with courage, foresight and skill.”

PM Wong said Singapore will continue to be a safe harbour, a global emporium, and a trusted hub for all sides to engage. This is how it will ensure Singaporeans can earn a good living and make contributions that bring value to themselves and the world.

“Let us stay true to the spirit that built this nation, and ensure this little red dot continues to shine brightly as a beacon of hope, stability and purpose on the world stage.”

JoinST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.