Singapore cannot afford to remain a bystander in the evolving global landscape and must actively shape its destiny, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday (16 April) during the 2025 S Rajaratnam Lecture.
Speaking to an audience of more than 900 political officeholders, diplomats, and senior officials, Wong acknowledged that while Singapore is a small state, it is “not without agency”.
He stressed that the city-state is now more connected and better resourced than ever, with many like-minded partners that share its commitment to an open, rules-based global order.
The lecture, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Academy, honours Singapore’s first foreign minister S Rajaratnam.
Past speakers include Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong, Halimah Yacob, and Tony Tan.
Notably, it is rare for the S Rajaratnam Lecture – an annual event – to be broadcast live by state media outlets such as The Straits Times and CNA.
This year’s live coverage coincided with the announcement of Parliament’s dissolution yesterday, ahead of Singapore’s national polls on 3 May.
A Changing Global Order
Wong painted a sobering picture of the global environment, warning that the stable, rules-based order which underpinned Singapore’s rise is fraying.
In its place, a more contested and less coordinated order is emerging — one that is unlikely to be defined by a single dominant power.
“America is stepping back from its traditional role as guarantor of global order. But neither China nor any other country is willing or able to fill this vacuum,” Wong said.
“Nations are turning inward, prioritising narrow interests, and the rising tide of cooperation is giving way to growing competition and distrust.”
He attributed this shift in part to domestic sentiments within the United States.
Disillusionment with globalisation, the fallout from wars in the Middle East, and the shocks of the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 have led to a growing isolationist mood.
Wong referenced US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent comments, noting that America’s global leadership after the Cold War was “an anomaly”, and suggesting that today’s retrenchment could be a lasting structural change.
Meanwhile, China’s growing power and ambitions add further complexity. Wong said a new generation of Chinese leaders and citizens view their country as rising while the West declines.
This has fuelled a more assertive posture, with China determined to reclaim its perceived rightful place on the global stage.
“The US and China are now locked in a fierce contest for global supremacy,” Wong said, cautioning that flashpoints like Taiwan could trigger dangerous escalations.
“Though both powers claim they do not wish to force others to choose sides, the reality is each seeks to pull countries into their respective orbits.”
Singapore’s Response
Against this backdrop, Wong laid out three strategic thrusts for Singapore: contributing to global commons, deepening regional integration, and expanding a resilient network of partnerships.
He underscored Singapore’s longstanding belief in multilateralism and international law, not just as a matter of principle, but necessity.
“Our interests as a small state are best protected when rules apply equally to all,” he said.
Singapore will continue playing a constructive role in global forums, including efforts to govern artificial intelligence, combat climate change, and uphold the multilateral trading system.
On regional fronts, Wong reaffirmed the centrality of ASEAN to Singapore’s foreign policy.
He urged the bloc to accelerate integration by eliminating tariffs, boosting intra-regional trade, and advancing key initiatives such as the ASEAN power grid.
The grid, he said, would speed up the region’s green transition, attract investments, and create jobs.
“When Singapore takes over as ASEAN Chair in 2027, we will work to ensure that ASEAN remains a vital and credible anchor for peace and prosperity,” he said.
Forging New Partnerships
Singapore is also widening its diplomatic reach, both geographically and thematically.
Wong pointed out the need to strengthen relationships with countries beyond traditional allies, including those in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
He acknowledged that Singapore currently has only three diplomatic missions covering the vast continents of Africa and Latin America.
“This is insufficient,” he said, adding that new missions will be established in the coming years.
On the economic front, Wong noted that Singapore is a party to key agreements such as the CPTPP and RCEP and has a broad network of free trade deals.
He expressed support for greater collaboration between the CPTPP and the European Union, saying that a partnership between the two — representing 30 per cent of global GDP — could reinforce open trade and investment flows.
He also floated the idea of an ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, noting that the EU already has trade deals with Singapore and Vietnam and has been ASEAN’s dialogue partner since 1977.
“Deeper collaboration on concrete projects can bring us closer to the eventual goal of an ASEAN-EU FTA, unlocking the potential of a combined market of over a billion people,” he said.
A Collective Responsibility
While the government and diplomats must navigate this shifting terrain, Wong emphasised that safeguarding Singapore’s future is a shared responsibility.
“Singapore’s survival and success cannot rest on the actions of our leaders or diplomats alone. In the end, it depends on all of us – our belief in the nation and our shared sense of responsibility,” he said.
“Singapore may be an island. But we cannot have an island mentality.”
The post PM Wong: Singapore ‘not without agency’, must shape own destiny in fractured global order appeared first on The Online Citizen.
