Committee of Supply – Head N (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Chairman, I thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for navigating in this complex external environment. I have talked about the breakdown in the international world order in my speech for the Budget debate. Today, I want to focus on how Singapore conducts foreign policy and the relationships it maintains, particularly in relation to free trade and security.

The central challenge before us is this: the assumptions that underpinned the post-Cold War order, such as open markets and compliance with international law, can no longer be taken for granted. Therefore, the question is how Singapore should adapt to the evolving global environment in its conduct of foreign policy. I wish to make a few points.

First, we must be clear about what should not change. Singapore's foreign policy is anchored in the principles of sovereignty and the rule of law. For a small state, like Singapore, international law ensures that our rights are protected. Even when major powers disregard rules, it is not in our interest to do the same. We must remain consistent and ensure that when Singapore speaks on international issues, other countries recognise that Singapore is credible and its positions are consistent with its own conduct. When Singapore speaks on international issues, other countries recognise that its positions not based on expediency or convenience.

Second, in relation to free trade, we must recognise that globalisation is entering a more fragmented phase. Economic relationships are increasingly shaped by strategic considerations. For example, as I have mentioned during the Budget debate, the US' position on the imposition of tariffs has been troubling. In this environment, Singapore's approach must be to remain open and connected.

This means that we must actively diversify our economic partnerships. We must deepen ties not only with major powers, but also across regions, such as Asia, the Middle East, Europe and other markets. It also means supporting high-quality trade agreements and looking into emerging areas beyond traditional commerce. By participating actively in shaping new economic rules, we can ensure that emerging standards and frameworks align with our interests and values. At the same time, of course, we must continue to strengthen our economic resilience at home, so that external shocks do not disproportionately affect Singapore's economic position.

Third, on security, it is also important that we maintain balanced and good relationships. Our ties with the US and China, and other key partners each serve distinct and important interests. We should continue to engage all sides constructively, without being drawn into taking zero-sum positions. This requires careful calibration as well as a clear articulation of our national interests, so that engagement with one partner does not come at the expense of another.

Finally, ASEAN remains important to our strategy. A cohesive and credible ASEAN provides Southeast Asia with collective weight and agency. Singapore should continue to strengthen ASEAN-led platforms which promote dialogue and cooperation. Unfortunately, ASEAN is facing its own challenges, with Myanmar's participation limited by its political problems and the war between Thailand and Cambodia marking the first military confrontation between two ASEAN countries.

In order to achieve these objectives, we must invest in diplomatic capability. To conduct foreign policy effectively, it is important that our diplomats have deep expertise. Foreign policy today extends beyond traditional policymaking into domains, such as economics, climate and technology. Our diplomats' capacity to operate across these intersections is crucial.

MFA's work is especially important in these uncertain times. I support the Ministry's work and its continued efforts and look forward to hearing about the Ministry's plans in response to the challenges we face.

Mr Chairman, as the global environment becomes more fragmented, supply chains are reorganising. As a city-state, our resilience increasingly depends on trusted proximity and connectivity. I believe that trust is the intangible infrastructure for us to continue punching above our diplomatic weight class in a fragmented global economy.

In line with my view of Singapore as a Networked Economy, Singapore's strength lies in becoming a key trusted node in connected regional systems – linking cities, industries and people. Accordingly, I frame our foreign policy through three rings of strategic connectivity.

One immediate neighbourhood for execution. Recent engagements between Prime Minister Wong and Prime Minister Anwar reaffirm our commitment to managing complex issues constructively. The Singapore-Johor corridor is the fastest pathway to practical results, addressing our constraints in manpower, cost and energy resilience.

Beyond Johor, there are opportunities to deepen ties with cities in the rest of Peninsular Malaysia as well as East Malaysian cities, such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, where complementarities in energy, food systems and digital sectors offer mutual economic benefits. Likewise, the Singapore-Johor Riau corridor remains a natural growth platform.

Sumatra and the Riau Islands are in close proximity. Few Singaporeans realise that the city of Medan is nearer to Singapore than to Jakarta. We must therefore get Singaporeans to see opportunities beyond our shores.

Two, regional networks for resilience. Beyond our immediate borders, we must scale our trusted node status across ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Northeast Asia, China and India.

And three, emerging markets for longer term growth. We must pave pathways into Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The evolution of our overseas missions from mere representation to market paving and ecosystem building is critical. In this regard, I would be interested to know how MFA prioritises these neighbouring city and regional partnerships as platforms to help Singapore companies enter new markets and support Singaporeans seeking opportunities abroad.

Sir, the global order has shifted. Relying on traditional partners continues to be necessary but is no longer sufficient for Singapore to survive and thrive. We may become vulnerable if we over-depend on frameworks that no longer hold in this vulnerable era.

While we often speak of ASEAN centrality, we must not let regional cooperation remain primarily a matter of diplomatic process, while global giants rewrite the rules. Singapore must become a catalyst within ASEAN to coordinate our positions to exert collective bargaining power with middle and major powers.

To do this, we must invest more in ASEAN's architecture. This could include seconding MFA officers and having Singaporeans serve in leadership positions in the ASEAN secretariat. How is MFA planning to deepen regional cooperation, integration and encourage ASEAN to move together as a cohesive economic and political grouping during our chairmanship next year?

This new era also requires small states to step up diplomacy. We cannot assume nations will respect us simply because of our economic success. Our political leaders, diplomats and senior officials in all Ministries must cultivate deeper relationships with their counterparts in other countries. The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement was reportedly struck over a golf game in 2000 between then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and President Bill Clinton.

Today, world leaders often communicate directly to strike deals. Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, which has a smaller population than Singapore, has shared how he is able to text message both President Donald Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Do our leaders maintain that same level of direct access to global decision makers?

Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's early travels across Africa and Asia, built friendships that established support for Singapore and the global South for decades. He also built very strong personal relationships with leaders of global powers. We must build on this and not take this for granted.

In response to my question if Singapore will be accepting the US' invitation on the Board of Peace, the Minister said Singapore is still assessing it. In the meantime, the Board has held its first meeting and, it turns out, European nations that initially appeared to be staying out were there as observers. Our neighbour, Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority nation, has also joined it. Has Singapore made any decisions in this regard, including being at least an observer. To be clear, I am not calling for any commitment of funds or troops to the Board.

Overseas missions serve as important frontlines in promoting Singapore's interests and safeguarding the well-being of Singaporeans abroad, as well as listening posts to understand what is really happening. We currently lack resident ambassadors in Italy, Sweden, Canada, Brazil and Nigeria. Establishing more resident missions in middle powers must take higher priority as we diversify our partnerships.

Finally, we must develop greater people to people relationships with our neighbours, particularly among our youths.

Sir, the post-Cold War order that many of us grew up with is fading before our eyes. For more than three decades after the Cold War, the world operated under a relatively stable framework underwritten by the leadership of the US. Global trade expanded. Multilateral institutions such as the UN and WTO provided rules and processes. Small states like Singapore could rely on a system where law mattered more than raw power.

Today, that order is fracturing. We see the rise of multipolarity, sharper strategic rivalry, fragmentation of supply chains, and weakening confidence in multilateral institutions. Trade, technology and finance are increasingly instruments of geopolitical competition.

Sir, for Singapore, this is not an academic debate. It concerns our survivability.

First, on security. As a small state in a strategic region, we must expect greater pressure as major powers compete. Our approach must remain clear and consistent: we do not choose sides, but we choose principles. We uphold international law, freedom of navigation and ASEAN centrality. At the same time, we must continue to invest in a strong and credible SAF and Home Team to deter aggression and safeguard our sovereignty.

Second, on the economy. Our trade is multiple times our gross domestic product (GDP). Any fragmentation of global trade, decoupling of technology standards, or disruption of supply chains will directly impact our growth and jobs.

Third, on multilateralism. A rules-based order protects small states. If power politics prevails, small states suffer first. Singapore must continue to champion open markets, plurilateral agreements, and cooperation among like-minded countries.

In that regard, I would like to hear MFA’s latest take on the evolving post-world order and what are the implications for Singapore?

Chairman, over the past year, the global geopolitical landscape has become increasingly tense, from conflicts in Europe and South America to rising frictions even within our region. International institutions such as the UN and the WTO are facing growing limitations in resolving disputes. Increasingly, we see a world where power shapes outcomes, and the principle of “might is right” is gaining ground.

For a small and open country like Singapore, this is a sobering reality. We cannot take peace, stability, or prosperity for granted. Our survival has always depended on foresight, resilience, and above all, unity.

Against this backdrop, how will MFA position Singapore to navigate a more uncertain and fragmented world? How will MFA work together with MINDEF and other security agencies to strengthen our diplomatic, economic and defence resilience in the years ahead?

Equally important, how will the Government rally Singaporeans to stay united, vigilant and prepared? In a more dangerous world, our greatest strength is not just our military or our economy, it is the cohesion, trust and collective resolve of our people.

Mr Chairman, technology has become a geopolitical tool to impact the geopolitical economy that we have. Right now, you can see the "IC war". Not literally a war, but the barriers are being set up for technology transfer and also technology utilisation, trying to impede countries from moving from a higher level of technology capabilities.

I think Prof Joseph Nair famously mentioned two things: power and soft power. Technology then, can be a soft power. But the question is how we utilise it for the benefits of Singapore and also countries surrounding us or even for the world.

My observation is that technology, as we are practising right now, is on a lower level for foreign affairs. We set up technical assistance centres, we help our neighbouring countries and we offer scholarships. At a higher level, where we are in pioneering technologies such as quantum, such as AI. We typically leave it to either the industry or the research centres or the universities to implement, according to their relationships, maybe their complementary strengths.

Would MFA consider technology as a strategic tool in our foreign policy that we upgrade and push as a soft power?

My proposal is whether we will upgrade our current technology directorate into an ambassador level or have a coherent way of putting all our technologies in Singapore, from the pioneering and not just on the pioneering capabilities, but also the absorptive capacity of certain countries, because different countries have different level of technology absorption capacity. So, the training centres, will they be upgraded on a national scale rather than ad hoc basis? So, I am looking forward to a small strategic direction for our technology policy.

Mr Chairman, US-China strategic competition is deepening and global supply chains are being reshaped by security concerns, export controls and geopolitical alignment. A small, open economy, these shifts are not distant events for Singapore They have direct implications for our sovereignty, our economic resilience and the livelihood of our people. To protect Singapore’s independence as well as for Singapore to remain a trusted global hub for trade, we must understand the risks and respond decisively.

I would like to seek clarity from MFA on several fronts.

On our strategic posture, how does MFA see the US-China relationship evolving, and what does it mean for Singapore’s ability to make our own choices? Where are the pressure points where their rivalry could squeeze our room to manoeuvre, and how are we protecting that precious independence of action that underpins our sovereignty? And importantly, how are we making sure Singapore is never pushed into taking sides – whether in technology standards, security cooperation, or trade – so that we can continue to act in the best interests of our people.

Second, on economic security. Given that the world is shifting from efficiency to resilience, how is MFA working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to make sure Singapore is not overly exposed to any single geopolitical chokepoint? Because when supply chains are disrupted, it ultimately affects our jobs, cost of living, and the confidence businesses have to invest in Singapore.

How vulnerable are we to the US-China technology split, especially in semiconductors, AI and digital infrastructure that our companies rely on to stay competitive and families depend on for daily life? And as global supply chains reorganise, how are we positioning Singapore as a trusted, stable hub so that businesses continue to choose Singapore, create good jobs and keep our economy strong?

Finally, on resilience and public trust, how is MFA working across Government to protect Singaporeans from foreign interference, whether it comes through politics, digital platforms, or even economic pressure? And just as importantly, how is MFA helping Singaporeans understand these risks in a clear, calm way, so people feel informed and prepared rather than anxious? In a world where misinformation spreads quickly and external actors may try to influence our views or decisions, Singaporeans need to know what to look out for and trust that Government is safeguarding our interests.

Mr Chairman, these questions reflect our shared responsibility to safeguard Singapore’s sovereignty and secure the future of our people in a more contested world.

Chairman, Singaporeans have much to be grateful for and proud of. One would be our Singapore passport, the world's most powerful for the last four consecutive years and counting. Singaporeans are privileged with visa-free access to 192 countries, signifying strong diplomatic ties, exceptional stability and good reputation internationally. The passport is but one outcome of what our foreign policy achieves.

For us to remain and continue to shine as a red dot, our foreign policy has to be appreciated beyond our diplomatic call or in this House. It must also do so in our homes. Fellow Singaporeans must understand support and feel connected to it. There is a Malay saying, "tak kenal maka tak cinta". If we do not know something, we cannot love it. Likewise, if Singaporeans "tak kenal", or do not know how and why our foreign policy matters in a complex world, then "Where is the love?", a famous chorus by Black Eyed Peas.

Chairman, we are in an era where power is volatile. Institutions are under strain and geopolitical competition is intensifying, less constrained by shared rules. How do we safeguard our interests amid the weakening of the rules-based international order together? Singapore's thrives on stability and a rules-based international system. Our economy, our security and our future, all closely tied to what happens beyond our shores. That is why strengthening domestic support and awareness of our foreign policy is so important. Everything begins at home.

How will MFA enhance efforts to strengthen public understanding of Singapore's foreign policy principles so that there is sustained domestic support for the stand we take in complex and polarising situations? Singaporeans today are more globally aware than ever before. Many follow international developments closely and care deeply about humanitarian issues. Of late, we have seen how strongly Singaporeans here feel about Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.

Across communities, Singaporeans have shared the hurt and held the pain, each motivated to do their part, especially for women and children affected by the wars. Last year I was part of the Singapore delegation to Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah. Many Singaporeans reached out to share their concern. Some tried to unpack the complexities and many offered their support. Plus, many community organisations I met at a dialogue after the working visits also shared their interest in playing a part to rebuild Gaza.

I urge MFA to be intentional in engaging and collaborating with our homegrown and international NGOs, so more Singaporeans can participate in the Ministry's efforts to do its part in helping the ones in need. Singapore has been unwavering in our humanitarian assistance to state solution, maintaining good relations and supporting the Palestinian Authority. Earlier this week, the Palestinian Authority's Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Estephan Salameh, sat in this very House. I first met Dr Estephan in his office in Ramallah. As he was then, he remains hopeful of Singapore support and assistance. He is not alone. Singaporeans are too, and I am glad to learn that the Singapore Government has committed to that.

Chairman, for decades, multilateral institutions such as the UN and ASEAN have provided platforms where law norms and collective voice help offset disparities in economic weight, military strength and political influence. Singapore has consistently invested in these frameworks. We founded the Forum of Small States at the UN in 1992 to amplify collective voices of countries that do not possess the size or leverage of major powers. We continue as its chair today. Small states must work together to avoid being marginalised in a system shaped by larger actors. Yet, multilateral processes today are increasingly constrained by declining consensus and major contributors reassessing engagement. So, in such an environment, how does MFA balance continued commitment to establish on new institutions, such as the Board of Peace, with the need to assess and possibly pivot when these institutions no longer function as intended?

Closer to home, ASEAN remains a cornerstone of Singapore's foreign policy. Our region's relative peace and stability did not happen by chance. It was built over decades of cooperation and trust. As geopolitical tensions increase globally, ASEAN's unity and central role will become even more important for the future of Southeast Asia. The Prime Minister also spoke about diversifying connections and levelling up engagement with us going regional, such as Latin Ameria, Africa and the Middle East. This is a prudent move. Building stronger ties with these middle powers will help Singapore remain relevant and connected in a changing world.

As influence becomes more dispersed, how is MFA determining which partnerships to prioritise? And as we expand to new regions, how is MFA working across governments to ensure Singaporeans are equipped to engage them.

Chairman, our long-term strengths begins at home. One important step we can take is to prepare young people. Minister Chan Chun Sing earlier mentioned the importance of a Public Service building up global exposure and connections to understand the world well. I very much welcome this move. Singapore should also take this move upstream and ramp up efforts to expose students to different cultures, languages and religions.

Chairman, another Malay saying goes, "jauh perjalanan, luas permandangan", that is, the further you travel, the wider your view is. And our students pick up new languages, travel and interact with people from different societies, they learn. They build confidence and understanding. And when they understand the world better, they will also understand why Singapore must remain open, outward-looking and engage at the global stage.

Foreign policy can sometimes feel abstract about strategy, geopolitics and international negotiations. But its impact can also be deeply personal. We must ensure that our diplomacy and our people are ready for that reality. We must continue investing and strengthening our appreciation at home, building partnerships abroad and staying principal in uncertain times. We must continue so Singapore will be bit and shine bright as a mighty red dot.

Mr Chairman, navigating a world that has become more contested, more fragmented and ultimately more dangerous demands not just a capable foreign service, but a geopolitically literate citizenry behind it. I say this, having served nearly seven years as a Singapore diplomat. I know first-hand that our foreign policy is only as strong as our domestic understanding behind it.

Our diplomats are skilled but our foreign policy choices often involve navigating between imperfection options, not choosing between right and wrong. And when difficult decisions must be made, whether to take positions that may temporarily strain relationships or navigate between competing interests, those choices are much harder to sustain without a public that understands why we make them. Domestic geopolitical literacy is not a soft compliment to foreign policy. It is a foundation that makes hard choices possible.

I appreciate MFA's efforts on this front. Since January 2024, it has conducted some 150 dialogue sessions and workshops with students, youths and businesses. That is a good start. But engagement and literacy are not the same thing, especially as several Members of this House have acknowledged, that in an era where geopolitical actors actively shape public narratives through digital channels, a dialogue session raises awareness. Building literacy requires the same cumulative approach that we apply to other 21st century core competencies, layered across years, integrated into multiple disciplines and reinforced over time.

I urge MFA to work more deeply with Ministry of Education (MOE) to embed geopolitical literacy throughout the curriculum from secondary school onward. Our students should graduate and enter the workforce with an understanding of how Singapore's prosperity depends on regional peace and open trade routes, why our stance on international law serves concrete national interests and how global shift and technology, climate and demography and more will reshape the world that they will inherit. A Singapore that understands the world that it lives in is a Singapore that can make hard choices and sustain them. This is the kind of resilience that no budget line can buy directly, but which only good education can build over time.

Singapore will have to navigate a more contested geopolitical environment for the foreseeable future, including intensifying US-China rivalry. Some may ask whether it is time for us take a side. But doing so may not be in our national interest. The reality is that all countries need to work with both, which will remain consequential players regardless of how the international order changes.

Singapore's relevance to both major powers should not be taken for granted. I have two questions for the Minister. Why are both accounts important to us and how should Singapore work with both? Are there specific areas of cooperation that we are looking at?

Mr Chairman, Singapore's foreign policy has always been anchored in maintaining strong relations with all major powers while safeguarding our sovereignty and national interest. Can MFA update us on how our relationships with the US and China have developed and how we have continued to strengthen ties with both countries?

Even as we maintain positive relations with Beijing and Washington, the world is becoming increasingly bifurcated. Supply chains are fragmenting, technology ecosystems are splitting and countries are being pressured to choose sides. For a small, open economy like Singapore, this is an existential challenge.

This is why engagement with middle powers and sizeable regional blocs matters more than ever. Partners like the European Union, Japan and South Korea share our commitment to open trade, multilateral rules and a stable international order. Deeper collaboration with these partners can help us expand economic opportunities, diversify our dependencies and uphold the global commons.

Can MFA share the initiatives Singapore is pursuing with such middle-power partners, along the geopolitical, trade and technology fronts? How are we working with like-minded countries to partially insulate Singapore from an increasingly fragmented world, while continuing to advance our national interests?

Small nations thrive when the rules-based order holds. I hope MFA can outline how Singapore intends to play an active role in strengthening that order along partners who share this conviction.

Mr Chairman, I will speak on Singapore's relations with the US and China and our engagement with international organisations amid an evolving global order.

Singapore's foreign policy has long been grounded in a rules-based approach anchored in international law and multilateral cooperation. For a small, trade-dependent nation, respect for international law is not optional. It safeguards our security, stability and prosperity.

However, the global environment is changing. We are seeing signs of major powers recalibrating their roles within the traditional rules-based system. The US has, at times, reduced engagement in certain international institutions and pursued new strategic groupings. China, meanwhile, has expanded its regional influence through initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) platforms.

As new frameworks emerge, middle powers are reassessing their positions. Singapore must be clear-eyed about this shift and consider how best to deploy our limited diplomatic resources across established institutions and emerging platforms.

Our approach should remain steady: engage with US and China constructively, uphold international law and safeguard our national interests. As an open economy reliant on trade and connectivity, a stable and predictable international order remains vital to our long-term resilience.

In a more fragmented environment, it is not about choosing sides. It is about navigating competing frameworks with consistency, credibility and strategic discipline. May I therefore ask the Minister how Singapore intends to manage our relations with both the US and China, while engaging existing institutions and emerging alliances, so as to preserve stability, uphold international law and secure long-term prosperity for Singapore?

Chairman, in 2027, ASEAN will mark its 60th anniversary. Over six decades, the region has moved from uncertainty to one that is more stable, connected and economically vibrant.

For Singapore, ASEAN remains central to our security and continued relevance in the world. This milestone comes at a particularly consequential moment as Singapore assumes the ASEAN chairmanship amid growing global tensions. Major powers are competing more sharply and supply chains are reconfiguring. In such an environment, ASEAN's unity becomes even more critical.

When Southeast Asia is drawn into major-power rivalry, smaller states will have less strategic space to act independently. Our shared interest must therefore be to keep ASEAN open, inclusive and cohesive, able to engage all partners while preserving its collective autonomy.

At the same time, ASEAN must move with greater urgency on economic integration. Initiatives such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Power Grid are not abstract long-term ambitions but practical pathways to strengthen regional resilience, connectivity and competitiveness. Greater alignment of digital rules and payment can enable our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to operate more seamlessly across borders while regional energy cooperation can support our shared climate transition. Singapore as Chair is well placed to advance meaningful progress in these areas.

In this regard, I seek two clarifications from the Minister.

First, as ASEAN navigates a more contested geopolitical environment, how does Singapore intend to use its chairmanship to strengthen ASEAN cohesion and strategic autonomy so that the region remains united and not pulled apart by major-power competition? Beyond consensus statements, what practical mechanisms can ASEAN act collectively when its unity is tested?

Second, as economic integration becomes increasingly digital, what concrete outcomes or milestones can we expect under Singapore's chairmanship for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement? In particular, how is Singapore supporting efforts to narrow digital capability gaps among member states so that integration benefits the region as a whole?

Chairman, in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): Many entrepreneurs hope to expand their businesses overseas, but they worry about being unfamiliar with a foreign country and do not know where to start. Currently, international situation is complex, competition between countries intense, supply chain adjusting, rules and standards are also changing everywhere.

Therefore, Singapore's diplomacy not only relates to national security and our international standing, but also directly affects the overseas development space for Singapore enterprises.

Although Singapore cannot influence power rivalry between big countries, it must maintain an open, stable, rule-based and predictable environment. Only in this way can SMEs have the confidence to "go out, stand firm and go far".

As an ASEAN member, Singapore has consistently promoted regional economic integration and an open market. Agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have created a larger, more dynamic market in Southeast Asia.

I want to ask: Do our enterprises really feel these macro achievements? How are Singapore's relations with other ASEAN member states currently? How can we work hand-in-hand with them through bilateral cooperation, as well as the ASEAN platform to achieve mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes?

In Europe, Singapore has deep relations with the EU, with the free trade agreement having been in effect for years, and green and digital cooperation also advancing. Singapore's stability and law-abiding nature should be advantages for enterprises entering Europe.

However, EU rules are complex and standards strict, creating barriers for SMEs. Therefore, I have two suggestions:

First, can diplomacy more proactively help SMEs "interpret rules"? For example, overseas embassies, Government agencies and chambers of commerce could collaborate to provide regulatory information, market alerts and policy guidance, even creating an overseas investment guide.

Second, when expanding overseas networks, can we more strategically utilise Singapore's hub position in ASEAN? Let enterprises use Singapore as headquarters to expand into the ASEAN region; whilst maintaining Singapore-EU friendly relations, make Singapore a gateway for European enterprises entering Southeast Asia. Transform "Singapore-ASEAN-EU" into a clear business platform with mutual reinforcement.

Enterprises "going out" is diplomacy and also becomes Singapore's diplomatic calling card. When Singapore enterprises build sustainable projects in ASEAN and provide digital solutions, engage in green finance cooperation in Europe, they are not just doing business, but also showcasing Singapore's standards, integrity and professionalism. Corporate credibility strengthens national credibility, whilst national diplomacy expands corporate space.

Finally, I would like to ask the Minister to clarify: in maintaining an open environment, how does Singapore firmly support free trade and rules-based order? Facing protectionism, will we more actively participate in regional rulemaking rather than passively adapting?

Mr Chairman, diplomacy creates space for enterprises, enterprises create value overseas – both support each other.

Singapore may not be able to pursue scale advantages, but it can pursue value network advantages. As long as we deepen integration with ASEAN, consolidate cooperation with the EU and let SMEs truly benefit, Singapore can expand its cooperation network in a complex environment and preserve flexible space for future development.

Mr Chairman, ASEAN is important to Singapore because as neighbour states, we share many common interests and when we advocate and present ourselves as a regional bloc, can navigate as a stronger collective force.

Amid the cloud of geopolitical uncertainty, ASEAN member states recognise the need for greater unity and integration. In this regard, ASEAN has taken considerable steps forward in the recent year.

First, there has been more regional integration, especially in emerging areas such as the digital economy and sustainable energy. The signing of the upgrade to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement will improve market access, transparency and connectivity for Singapore companies doing business in the region.

The substantive conclusion of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) is yet another milestone. DEFA is the first regional digital economy agreement and when implemented, will improve rules in key areas such as digital trade facilitation, payments, standards and cross-border business flows, benefitting Singaporeans and Singapore businesses.

Second, ASEAN is a platform that can be leveraged to engage widely with countries around the world.

The ASEAN Plus mechanisms and Dialogue Partnerships provide Singapore and ASEAN with regular touchpoints with major and middle powers. These include the East Asia Summit, which Singapore played a key role in establishing in 2005. ASEAN has also institutionalised cooperation with other regional organisations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) through the biennial ASEAN-GCC Summit.

As we see ASEAN taking proactive steps to establish itself as a noteworthy regional platform, can the Minister share more on the continued relevance and importance of ASEAN to Singapore and the region as a whole and Singapore's role in the efforts to strengthen ASEAN integration, particularly as Singapore takes on the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027?

Chairman, in my work, I have witnessed how Singapore companies were able to operate confidently in ASEAN markets and collaborate on mutually beneficial platforms like the ASEAN Power Grid. This has been underpinned by diplomatic trust and strong government-to-government ties carefully nurtured over time through MFA's steady work.

In today's fragmented world, ASEAN is more important than ever to Singapore. As a small state, our resilience and strategic relevance are strengthened when ASEAN remains cohesive and central.

May I ask the Minister to share more about the latest in Singapore's ASEAN diplomatic strategy? Are there other regions besides ASEAN where we can replicate this cohesive diplomatic framework with?

Personally, I believe we should institutionalise leadership networks so trust endures beyond personalities, strengthen ASEAN's crisis coordination for faster collective responses and reinforce ASEAN's credibility in wider regional and global platforms.

Diplomacy may not always be visible, but its dividends are real. In uncertain times, we must double down on steady principled engagement. For Singapore, that begins and remains anchored in ASEAN.

Mr Chairman, hon Member Hazlina spoke about the mighty red dot. At this point, I would like to make a book recommendation called "The Not So Little Red Dot" to everyone. I received this as a Christmas gift. Not quite done with it yet, but so far, it has been a fascinating read of Singapore's 60 years of diplomacy journey.

Sir, the global contestation among major powers has intensified. We are witnessing tit-for-tat trade tariffs, export controls and increasingly troubling strategic posturing. The geopolitical temperature is rising. Countries in our region are understandably concerned, carefully evaluating their options in a more unsettled and uncertain landscape.

In this new multipolar world, ASEAN must navigate carefully and manage major power competition without becoming an arena for proxy rivalry.

Sir, ASEAN's continued relevance cannot be taken for granted. It must be earned.

First, ASEAN must preserve unity and centrality. ASEAN has always been most effective when member states act collectively. If we allow divisions to widen, ASEAN's voice will weaken and external powers will shape the regional agenda instead.

Second, ASEAN must remain economically integrated and outward-looking. In a world of fragmentation and protectionism, ASEAN can position itself as a stable and attractive production base. Strengthening intra-ASEAN trade, supply chain connectivity and digital integration will reinforce our relevance.

Third, ASEAN must continue to anchor an inclusive regional architecture. Platforms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit remain important channels for dialogue, confidence-building and crisis management. Even when major powers disagree, ASEAN can provide neutral convening space.

As a founding member of ASEAN, our strategic space is closely tied to ASEAN's cohesion and credibility. A strong and united ASEAN enlarges Singapore's diplomatic and economic space. A divided ASEAN narrows it.

Under this setting, can I ask MFA how can ASEAN ensure continued relevance and what are the implications for Singapore?

ASEAN has long been described as a core strategic asset for Singapore. Could MFA elaborate on how it is strengthening ASEAN's role as a stable regional framework, one that amplifies the collective voice of its members and anchors Southeast Asia in an open, inclusive and rules-based order?

As we prepare for Singapore's ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, how is MFA prioritising efforts to strengthen ASEAN unity and effectiveness so that ASEAN countries can continue to matter to both its members and to external partners? In particular, how is the Ministry advancing economic integration, supply chain resilience and ASEAN centrality in a more fragmented global system?

On regional peace and stability, how is MFA working with our neighbours to reinforce ASEAN-led mechanisms, manage differences through dialogue and uphold international law, especially in areas of growing strategic tension?

Finally, how is MFA positioning ASEAN for the future? What concrete steps are being taken to advance cooperation in the digital economy, green transition and human capital development so that ASEAN remains competitive and resilient?

I would be grateful if the Ministry could address how these efforts together safeguard Singapore's long-term interests and regional stability.

On relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and ASEAN neighbours, Chairman, I would like to ask MFA how Singapore is stepping up engagement with our immediate neighbours, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, in a more uncertain and competitive global environment.

First, beyond our well-established bilateral frameworks, how is MFA refreshing and prioritising engagement to ensure these relationships remain strategically relevant and responsive to new challenges?

Second, could MFA elaborate on what new or emerging domains it is actively developing with our neighbours? In particular, how is MFA advancing cooperation in areas, such as the digital economy, renewable energy, sustainability and supply chain resilience, and how are these being translated into concrete, practical projects?

Third, how is MFA strengthening engagement at the sub-national level? What role do partnerships with Malaysian states and Indonesian provinces play in Singapore's broader regional strategy, and how does MFA ensure these ground-up collaborations deliver tangible outcomes?

I would be grateful if the Ministry could address how these efforts collectively strengthen Singapore's security, economic resilience and strategic space.

Chairman, as Members have already shared, the world is indeed more tumultuous and uncertain. Several flashpoints around the world – Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Palestine, US-China – continue to remind us that even in a world with largely ample global resource to solve crises, matters that transcend boundaries have not been so easy to find a resolution to and clear long-term solutions continue to elude us.

Because when the rubber hits the road, sovereign nations look out for their interest first. Such a message is not lost on us as a small country that has to manoeuvre through headwinds where big players muscle in and make every attempt to influence. In fact, of late, any effort to converge towards multilateralism appears to swim against a very tough tide.

On Gaza, for example, member countries of the Board of Peace have pledged billions, billions. Yet the plan is met with much cynicism. Save for the US, no other permanent member of the UN security council has come on board this plan. While the ceasefire in Gaza has held to some extent, the situation remains dire and fragile. The risk of renewed conflict remains high. Israel has recently made moves to tighten control over the West Bank and Hamas continues to be tentative in disarmament.

In the meantime, while outwardly, armed conflict appears to have been dialed down, ordinary Palestinians continue to suffer in the middle of this impasse. Singaporeans continue to be deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis for which a longer-term resolution still remains unclear.

In recent days, MFA hosted Palestinian Authority's Minister of Finance and Planning Estephan Salameh to reaffirm our commitment that Singapore stands in support and solidarity of the Palestinians in capacity building and toward statehood. In fact, we have already contributed more than $25 million in humanitarian aid of this crisis.

To the Ministry, I ask, what is Singapore's forward plan and contribution to alleviating this crisis and tragedy and what more can Singaporeans do in support of these efforts? Indeed, how we manage this crisis has parallel lessons for us in how we navigate our foreign diplomacy and relations moving forward. How we balance our existing relationships with countries we have traditionally regarded as friends, how we push against flagrant breaches of international law by countries, how we maintain our position as a principled, trusted partner in the global stage and, ultimately, how we look out for our national interests for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore has long excelled in government-to-government diplomacy. Our bilateral partnerships and multilateral engagement remain strong foundations of our foreign policy.

But today's geopolitical environment requires us to go one level deeper. Resilience is no longer built only through state relationships. It is built through networks of people, institutions and shared capabilities. Middle powers, such as South Korea, Australia, the Nordic states, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and our ASEAN neighbours, we face similar challenges – navigating major power competition, sustaining open economies, managing ageing populations, strengthening social cohesion and fighting low total fertility rates.

These shared realities create natural grounds for deeper partnership. After all, there is something special about bonds forged through shared challenges. Yet structured platforms for sustained collaboration between Singaporeans and our counterparts in these countries remain limited. I would therefore seek the Minister's view on three areas.

First, whether Singapore can develop structured mid-career exchange or fellowship programmes between fellow middle powers. Second, how we might facilitate longer term institutional partnerships connecting SMEs, research institutions, healthcare systems and civic organisations. And third, whether MFA could expand Track 1.5 dialogues at people-to-people platforms to include younger professionals and community leaders from diverse sectors.

Mr Chairman, Sir, in an increasingly multipolar world, influence is not defined by size but by the strength of our networks.

Chairman, in a more contested and volatile world, small states cannot afford to stand alone. We must build coalitions not only through trade and security, but through development partnerships. Singapore's credibility comes from experience: building trusted institutions, strengthening governance, managing public finance with discipline and developing talent and urban systems under constraint.

In this changed world, success cannot mean Singapore simply running far ahead. We have both an obligation and a strategic interest in mutual knowledge sharing with fellow small states, middle powers and our regional neighbours.

How are we strengthening sustained capacity-building platforms – talent exchanges, not just in education and work but in the sports and arts as well; institutional partnerships and governance collaboration – so that we build enduring networks of trust, not one-off engagements?

In a fragmented world, influence is built not by size, but through sharing our capabilities together.

Chairman, as more Singaporeans study, work and travel abroad, many may not realise that wherever our citizens go, Singapore quietly maintains a constant watch over their safety.

At the heart of this effort is MFA's 24-hour Consular Response Centre, staffed around the clock to assist Singaporeans facing emergencies anywhere in the world; whether arising from accidents, natural disasters, civil unrest or unforeseen crises. Even in the middle of the night, when a Singaporean encounters distress thousands of kilometres away, there is always a duty officer in Singapore ready to respond, coordinating assistance with MFA's overseas Missions, liaising with local authorities and supporting both the individual abroad and their families back home.

This commitment was demonstrated during the recent floods in Hat Yai, where hundreds of Singaporeans were affected and more than 800 were safely assisted to return home through coordinated evacuation efforts. I would like to commend the strong and often unseen work of the MFA officers and our overseas Missions, whose dedication provide reassurance to Singaporeans far beyond our shores.

While the 24-hour hotline provides vital coordination and guidance, situations on the ground may sometimes require physical, in-person assistance, particularly in countries where Singapore does not maintain a resident embassy or consulate. Some countries address this through consular-sharing arrangements. For example, Australia and Canada provide reciprocal assistance to each other's citizens in locations where one country may not have a diplomatic presence, allowing travellers to access basic emergency to help locally.

May I ask the Minister whether MFA is exploring similar consular-sharing partnerships with like-minded countries, so that Singaporeans may continue to receive timely on-the-ground assistance even in places where we do not have a resident diplomatic presence?

Mr Chairman, on behalf of my colleagues, I first thank all Members for their ideas, their suggestions. And I must say, again, this year, I think I can claim bi-partisan support for MFA.

The post-World War II international order actually is historically an unprecedented phase in global history and, generally, the last 80 years have been a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity for most countries in the world, but the point is that it was unique. And the deeper point today is that that international order has ended. Ended.

This order used to be characterised by principles of multilateralism, international law, sovereign equality, free markets, global supply chains organised on the basis of efficiency and global institutions – the UN, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WTO).

In the last 60-plus years of Singapore's Independence, actually, we evolved exquisitely to take full advantage of this global system, and we benefited from Pax Americana, from China's reform and opening, from the rise of middle powers and the progressive integration of ASEAN. In fact, Singapore thrives as a global metropolis in an age of globalisation.

The first brutal hard truth is that if that period has ended, we cannot simply presume that we just carry on as per normal, somehow magically things will fall into place. This is a moment of rupture. It is also worth asking ourselves why and how that benign era of globalisation has ended.

Actually, foreign policy begins at home and this applies in understanding what is happening now on the global stage. In many countries, there has been a populist backlash. Globalisation has created wealth, but it is also blamed for accentuating fault lines, for increasing inequality, for middle-class stagnation, for the loss of jobs, for growing despair and deep polarisation in many societies.

This domestic dysfunction has now projected itself onto the global stage and you will see that this has undermined the support for the international order. So, I completely agree with Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, and Gerald Giam. That this is not a passing shower. This is not just a small tremor. This is a geostrategic tectonic plate rupture.

The Greek historian Thucydides wrote, “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”. His words are now acutely apt. Today, the Great Powers flex their military and economic power more readily than ever before in pursuit of their interests more narrowly defined. And to be frank, with less pretence of legal or moral justification for their actions. Where there was once economic integration, there is now fragmentation and weaponisation of interdependence and dependence. We are now in a world where international relations are no longer driven primarily by rules or by attempts to achieve consensus. Actually, the Great Powers have always been selective when applying the rule of law to themselves. But now, they feel even less need to engage in hypocrisy. It is all about how raw power and how that raw power asymmetry can be exploited.

And so, this is a more dangerous world for small countries, because small countries do not have the strategic heft to buffer ourselves from turbulence. For Singapore, a tiny city-state, the shoals are even more treacherous. Let us pause for a moment to consider what our options are.

First option: despair, give up, surrender to our fates. I think the answer must be no, because that is not who we are. This is not who we were in 1965 when in fact, a newly independent Singapore faced even longer odds with less resources.

Second option: choose one dominant power and seek protection under its wing. No. This would undermine our sovereignty, our independence, and in effect make us a vassal state. Singapore should not and does not need to do this. And after all, Singapore has never expected anyone else to come to our defence. We will defend ourselves.

The third, and in my view, the only viable option for us is to continue to determine our long-term national interests and then exercise our agency to chart our own path. Choose our own destiny. Yes, we may be small, but we are a sovereign and independent country. We are a trusted global hub and an assiduous bridge builder. We want to make common cause with all states that are willing to engage us. We build regional and global networks that support dialogue, openness, and inclusion. We want to be useful but not made use of. We are successful because of our domestic unity, our economic relevance and vitality, and our defence capabilities. Therefore, we may be small, but we have agency, we have resilience, and we have the resources and the will to back this up.

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked how Singapore will defend our principles not just in words, but also in deed. Singapore's foreign policy has always rested on two pillars. Mr Rajaratnam described the first pillar as “the theology of foreign policy”. Theology. That means, the world that we hope to have, a world that hopefully was based on principles of fairness, sovereign equality and international rules.

But we have never been naïve. There is a deep vein of realism in the way we view the world and the way we operate. This is what Mr Rajaratnam termed “the practice of foreign policy”. We have always understood that size and power matter in foreign relations. Disagreement, coercion, and even conflict are part and parcel of the cut-and-thrust of international relations. This is precisely why we have spent between 3% and 6% of our GDP for six decades for defence. An effective foreign policy needs both pillars: idealism and realism. We never want to become so cynical that no one will trust us. But we also do not want to be so naïve that we will get taken advantage of by everyone.

We need to assess objectively our national interests based on our unique circumstances as a tiny multiracial city-state in the heart of Southeast Asia. So, the next set of questions: what are our national interests?

First, to safeguard our sovereignty, our independence and our national unity.

Second, to secure access to essential supplies and the freedom of navigation necessary for us to continue to have access to these essential supplies. What are these essential supplies? Energy, food, water, and you can add to that list.

The third national interest is to continue to strengthen our role as a trusted global hub for trade, for finance, for wealth management, advanced manufacturing and other global services.

Fourth aspect of our national interest is to support a rules-based multilateral approach wherever possible, recognising that challenges to the global commons, like climate change, like pandemics, in fact, have to be tackled collectively because they go beyond the ability of any single country, even a super power, to resolve.

In such a tumultuous world, the point I am making today is that we are going to face more strategic dilemmas and difficult choices. Because, for instance, our interests are not always going to be aligned with the Great Powers, all the middle powers, or our immediate neighbours. On some issues, and this is the key point that we are making today, on some issues we will have to say “no”, to say "no" courteously, respectfully and constructively. But nevertheless, we stand firm and say "no". This is not about choosing sides but about upholding principles and a careful assessment of Singapore's long term national interests.

I have been in this post long enough to tell you that pressure has been and will be brought to bear on us. There will always be attempts to weaken our will and to divide us domestically. I will also state that sometimes we will pay a price for staking our position but I am hoping that this House and the citizens beyond will agree that we must retain this ability to say "no" when we have to and that if we ever lose that ability to say "no", then that is the day that Singapore loses its relevance, indeed, our independence.

Let us provide some examples so it is not just words.

We have consistently called out violations of international law. We did so when Russia invaded Ukraine. To us, that was a clear violation of international law and the principles of the UN Charter. More recently, we also did so in relation to the US actions in Venezuela, and we took these positions because a world based on "might is right" is a world that is more dangerous for Singapore.

We spoke out about the need to preserve a rules based trading system, including the principle of most favoured nation in the WTO. We expressed categorically our disappointment with the US tariffs that violate this principle, because trade is our lifeblood. Trade is more than three times Singapore's GDP. Jobs, investments and living standards depend on our predictable access to external markets.

We also took clear positions on the Israel Gaza conflict. We condemn the attacks that occurred on the 7 October 2023 on Israel. These were acts of terror. We affirm that every state has a right of self defence. However, in exercising this right, countries must abide by international law, including international humanitarian law, and we have clearly stated that Israel's military response has breached international humanitarian law.

I agree with Mr Yip Hon Weng on the need for both moral clarity and diplomatic effectiveness, although I would add that we must not try to reduce foreign relations into a morality play. I think you will be hard pressed to find occasions when the Prime Minister or me ever refer to anyone, any other leader or any other country as evil or saint. That is not the way things work in real life.

Coming back to Gaza, we have and we will do more to alleviate the suffering in Gaza, and in fact we have been able to do more precisely because we have got extensive diplomatic ties across the entire Middle East, and we are one of the few countries, and those of you who travel with me will know, with remarkable access to all sides. We have sent 11 tranches of humanitarian aid amounting to more than $25 million to help the civilians in Gaza so far, and you know that these fundraising efforts are continuing. And more than just money, that there are Singaporeans lining up to volunteer their services, their professional services to help on the ground.

To answer Mr Gerald Giam, we are still accessing the invitation from the US to formally join the Board of Peace, but in the meantime, we will explore initiatives, including those that were recently announced at the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace on 19 February 2026.

Singapore will continue to play a constructive role in the pursuit of peace and reconstruction in Gaza, and on Palestine, the larger question. Our long-standing position remains that the only path to a just and durable peace is a negotiated two state solution consistent with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. We oppose attempts to create new facts on the ground that undermine the prospects for a two state solution. And it is our consistent position that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.

These positions that we have taken and explicitly stated over the last few years have not been universally welcome and even domestically, have elicited active debate. But the point I am trying to make to you is that people may disagree with certain decisions and positions that we take, but I hope you understand why we take these positions, as Mr Foo Cexiang has emphasised.

Taking a position rather than lying low and seeking cover, in fact, aligns with furthering our national interest. Articulating these positions is part of exercising agency, because we must try to shape the environment and to carve out conditions which are most conducive for the survival and success of small states.

I agree with Mr Giam that in this fraught geopolitical environment, the personal touch is still paramount. Building relationships at a personal level between leaders, political leaders is still the paramount currency of diplomacy.

Last year, MFA facilitated over 180 visits, incoming and outgoing, at the political level. If you include officials and civil servants, the number balloons exponentially.

But purpose of travelling is not just to show up, just to fly the flag, but to deepen the personal rapport and trust between leaders and officials and their foreign counterparts, particularly when the views are divergent. It would not resolve the conflict but building reservoirs of trust and understanding reduces the probability of miscommunications and unnecessary conflicts.

Having said all that, let me go one more layer of resolution down. MFA has five priority workstreams. First, we want to engage all the great powers constructively and we want to give them a stake in the stability and prosperity of our region, because that balance of power between great powers is what gives small states like Singapore room for manoeuvre and options.

The second workstream is to buttress an even wider network of middle-power partnerships for greater stability. I think in the last couple of years, the need for middle-powers, particularly middle-powers who share an affinity for international law, multilateralism, free trade, that imperative for middle-powers to get together and for us to engage in middle-powers has become all the more obvious.

Our third workstream is to strengthen a stable and integrated ASEAN, not just because it is our immediate neighbourhood but because this happens to be a part of the world with great potential over the next couple of decades, in terms of economic growth, in terms of a rising middle-class, in terms of technological leapfrogging, in terms of infrastructure and integration.

Fourth, obviously, we do need to pay attention to our immediate neighbours. And by immediate neighbours, it is Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei – the core of our core.

And fifth, take an overarching view, we need where to do where we can, to reinforce a rules-based international architecture despite the current headwinds. So, again, it is an example of not surrendering to our fates.

Let me delve in a little bit more detail about major powers, starting with the US and China. Mr Edward Chia, Mr Henry Kwek, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Shawn Huang and Ms Jessica Tan asked how we will maintain trust with both the US and China, whilst preserving Singapore's strategic options and even while the two superpowers are competing against each other in the realms of security, supply chains, technology and trade. It is a tough question.

Let me start with US. We have a substantial, deep and multi-faceted relationship with the US. The US has long been and continues to be the largest foreign investor in Singapore by a long way. If you check the figures, you will see that it is multiple times more stock of foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the US than the second, third, fourth and fifth investor, even if you add it up. We purchase US defence equipment and we cooperate closely on countering terrorism and proliferation. We are deepening cooperation in critical and emerging technologies. This year, we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties with the US.

Having said that, China is also a vital partner with whom we enjoy a robust and close relationship. Over most of the last 10 years, it has been our largest trading partner in goods. At the last Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, we concluded 27 agreements ranging from finance and innovation to food security and green energy. We marked 35 years of diplomatic relations last year.

Actually, if you stop to think about it, beyond the numbers, we have a unique relationship with China. China and Singapore are the only two sovereign states in the world with a majority Chinese population, with deep linguistic, culture and historical links. This presents both opportunities and it is also a burden for us. Because Singapore is an independent multiracial city-state in the heart of Southeast Asia. We have our own identity, our own political system and our own values. Actually, our value proposition, even to China, is to be same-same but different, to quote Mr Lim Swee Say. Same-same, yes, of course, we enjoy the affinity, the linguistic, the shared cultural heritage. But different, because Singapore's destiny and our value proposition is to be distinct and not yet another small Chinese city. Do you see my point?

Therefore, we have to work with both the US and China where our interest coincides and where our interest diverged, we will courteously stand up and say "no". And when we say "no", both sides must understand it is not personal, but it is based on a principled assessment of Singapore's national interests and that we are not acting as a proxy for one or the other, against them.

So long as we can maintain this, and I speak now from my experience, in fact, so long as we maintain this principled approach, actually, I feel that we come under less pressure because they know this tiny little city-state is one where the more you push them, the more spine and the more firmly they will hold their ground. And conducting foreign policy on this basis with superpowers, I am telling you from experience, I think this is only way to do it.

The reality is that all countries, including Singapore, will have to find creative ways to work with both the US and China because they are the major powers and they are relevant to our future.

Turning to the middle powers, we are growing our network of partnerships with middle powers and the regional blocs. So, for instance, in 2025, we upgraded our partnerships with Australia, France, India, New Zealand and Vietnam. We achieved a new partnership with South Korea. We signed the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement. And we are deepening relations with more like-minded partners. We are expanding our global footprint in Africa and Latin America. And to support this, we are establishing new Missions in Mexico and Ethiopia. Actually, there will be more to come. And I want to reassure Mr Lee Hong Chuang that all these moves, beyond the diplomatic field, are also in, to increase access for our local enterprises to overseas markets.

On ASEAN, I agree with Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Ms Valerie Lee that ASEAN has to remain the cornerstone of our foreign policy. It is a salient platform from which we engage the wider world.

For ASEAN to remain relevant, Mr Liang has reminded us that we must deepen our regional integration in order to become more cohesive, more united and credible. An integrated ASEAN builds a stable regional platform for Singapore and gives us a voice, more so than a unilateral voice and also the convening power of ASEAN. That is why we are also pushing hard on key initiatives that bind our ASEAN economies closer together, as emphasised by Mr Yip Hon Weng and Miss Rachel Ong.

We are making progress on the ASEAN Power Grid. This is about creating a sustainable, interconnected infrastructure that supports the entire region's continued growth. The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement was substantially concluded last year. We hope to finalise the agreement this year. I believe it will unlock the immense potential of the digital economy in ASEAN in the years to come.

But we must also continue to look outward. We should give all major powers a stake in the stability and prosperity of our region and to ensure that ASEAN remains the partner of choice. This is the logic behind our open, inclusive ASEAN-centred regional architecture. The more countries invest in ASEAN's collective progress, the more stable we will be. This balance of power and interest provides small countries like Singapore with more room for manoeuvre than an alternative scenario where there was only a single power dominating our region.

Mr Gerald Giam and Patrick Tay and Miss Rachel Ong asked how we plan to leverage our upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship to deepen integration and unity. We will assume the Chair of ASEAN in 2027 during ASEAN's 60th anniversary. This is a heavy responsibility but also an opportunity, an opportunity at a time of turmoil. We will deepen integration, we will promote external partnerships, we will continue to keep the ASEAN region open for business, open to the world, committed to peace, stability and cooperation.

I would like to assure Mr Gerald Giam that we do, in fact, second officers to the ASEAN Secretariat, particularly at the leadership positions. We have done so over the years, including the current Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community, Mr Satvinder Singh. MFA will continue to curate and facilitate secondments for MFA and other public officers from other Ministries to the ASEAN Secretariat and to other international organisations. This extends our experience and knowledge base of international diplomacy and tradecraft more widely across our Civil Service.

Let me turn now to our neighbours, closer to home. Strong relations with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei are critical. Mr Patrick Tay asked how we will step up our engagement of with them. Mr Victor Lye asked how we will strengthen economic coordination with our neighbours through city-based and regional partnerships, given the increasing cross-border activities of Singaporean companies and Singaporeans.

With Indonesia, we have resolved longstanding issues and are now in the position to explore mutually beneficial projects in energy, food security, education and healthcare. We are discussing cross-border electricity trade, carbon capture and storage and establishing a Sustainable Industrial Zone across the Batam-Bintan-Karimun corridor. These strategic projects will accelerate decarbonisation. It will catalyse green investment in both countries, and we look forward to commemorating 60 years of diplomatic ties in 2027.

With Malaysia, our leaders meet regularly, both formally and informally, for candid discussions. This has allowed us to pursue beneficial regional partnerships, including the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link. We are deepening economic and people-to-people ties with East Malaysia. In fact, we will be establishing new consulates, one in Sabah and one in Sarawak shortly.

But at the same time, I will also be candid and tell you that we are trying to manage outstanding bilateral issues that are complex that, by definition, have been around for a long time and will take time to resolve. But the fact of the matter is that Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei will always be close permanent neighbours, and we cannot afford to allow spiky issues to undermine our overall positive cooperation.

On international organisations, norms and standards, I agree with Mr Yip Hon Weng and Mr Lee Hong Chuang on the need to protect the global commons and to support multilateralism. Despite the challenges, the rules-based multilateral system ultimately provides the architecture of norms, standards and institutions that protects the global commons and gives all small states a say. This means, in spite of the headwinds today, we must continue to do our best to build overlapping flexible circles of plurilateral partnerships with like-minded countries. Where we can make common calls, we do so and we proceed.

We remain fully committed to the WTO. But achieving consensus among 166 members is very difficult. Our strategy is to push the envelope with like-minded partners where we can, who share our commitment to free trade, and we aim for high-ambition agreements that are inclusive and WTO-consistent, so that others can join when ready. In other words, make common cause, move forward, invite other people to come onboard, always stay open and inclusive.

The Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce Agreement began with Singapore, Australia and Japan. It now has 72 co-sponsors. The Future of Investment and Trade Partnership brings together 16 small- and medium-sized economies on supply chain resilience and trade facilitation.

You see my point? These are examples where you start small, but you can build and expand these platforms.

Beyond trade, we have also built constituencies of support among fellow small states in the UN. The Forum of Small States, which Singapore co-founded, brings together 108 countries to address issues, like sustainable development, climate change, protecting the global commons and digitalisation. Building consensus in a fractured world is difficult but not impossible. Ambassador Rena Lee presided over the conclusion of the BBNJ Agreement in 2023. We will continue to contribute where we can. And our nomination of Ambassador Rena Lee as a candidate for Judge in the International Court of Justice reflects our commitment to advancing the international rule of law.

Dr Neo Kok Beng has suggested leveraging technology as a soft power. Completely agree with him. We have in fact been stepping up technology cooperation in our partnerships with other countries. We work together with others, including at the G20 and APEC, to shape the norms and standards and, more importantly, open access to technology that can benefit all countries. We will continue to strengthen such engagements and ensure that Singapore remains an open and trusted hub for technological innovation and scientific collaboration.

I tell my foreign counterparts, send your people to us, we will run an open book exercise with you. We will show you how we do it because anyway, the challenge is not in the idea. The challenge is in execution. And to the extent that we can show people what we have done, including our mistakes, and they can modify it and make it relevant to them, that is how we exercise thought leadership and cooperation in this field.

Let me come to the challenges ahead.

We are in a very turbulent world. We will face more inflection points, and we will have to take more difficult positions. Singaporeans will have different views on these foreign policy issues. Being interested or, as Eileen has said, literate in global issues and understanding Singapore's national interest will help us engage the world with knowledge, understanding and confidence. We do not necessarily have to agree on all our foreign policy stances, but we must agree that these are matters to be discussed and decided by Singaporeans alone.

That means keeping a wary eye on foreign interference and influence. With increased global contestation, foreign actors will want us to align with their views. They will try to see their narratives and there will be attempts, as have occurred in more recent times, to create fake news and to play on potential internal divisions.

We have already seen information campaigns targeting Singapore online, including, I must add, during our own General Elections last year, where Singaporeans were urged to vote along religious lines. Government statements on regional developments have prompted criticisms from foreign netizens who want us to adopt their interpretations of history, and such attempts will continue.

Geopolitical contestation has become a tussle for the hearts and minds in cyberspace as well. We must be aware and we must exercise caution because we have a diverse population. And never, never presume that we are immune to the polarisation and fractures in societies elsewhere.

So, where does this leave us? The world today, more dangerous, more unpredictable than I have ever seen in my decade plus as Foreign Minister. The global order that used to underpin our success has ended and we do not expect a stable new equilibrium to take shape in 2026 or, even frankly, even the next couple of years. We must expect more issues on which we will have to take a difficult stand. And external and domestic pressures on us will grow.

But I also believe that we should take heart. The challenges we face today are serious, but they are less severe than what Singapore faced in 1965.

Singapore had unexpectedly become Independent. We had no hinterland, no resources, no armed forces. Our security was precarious. Our economic viability was in doubt. Our social cohesion was yet to be forged, and we lived in a volatile and dangerous neighbourhood that regarded us with suspicion. Despite all this, our pioneers pressed ahead and they built this country.

This is a narrative that connects Singapore over the decades. We may be small and improbable, but we have never been afraid to stand up to fight for what we believe in. Today, we are in a far, far better position in terms of tools and resources.

We have three prerequisites for success. The first is our domestic unity, although this is work always constantly in progress. As long as we understand that we are all in this together, as long as we can inoculate ourselves from foreign influence, as long as we can disagree maturely and, ultimately, still forge a domestic consensus, we will continue to thrive. We cannot be bought or bullied by anyone.

The second ingredient is our economic vitality and relevance. Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, "Singapore cannot take its relevance for granted. Small countries perform no vital or irreplaceable function in the international system". Hence, we must preserve our relevance to the world. In 1965, our per capita GDP was US$500. Today, it is over US$90,000. Paradoxically, today's more fractious world accentuates Singapore's value as a trusted stable hub. Our friends and partners know that we speak honestly and independently. They know that we are open and welcoming to all. They know that we honour our word. Contracts are sacrosanct. Investments and intellectual capital are protected. There is a premium in such a world for stability, consistency and respect for the rule of law.

The third ingredient is our ability to defend ourselves. We can do that today because we have National Service and because of the steady investment in defence for decades. We must preserve this capability because it keeps us safe and we are a country that can hope for the best, but also prepare for the worst.

So, on this note, I thank all Members for your longstanding support for MFA's work as we continue to navigate the challenges, we continue to safeguard Singapore's national interest, and we seize the opportunities in these troubled times.

I began with Thucydides and the cold logic of power. I will end on a different note. The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus offered a different kind of wisdom, "Character is destiny".

For all the turbulence in the world, I believe Singapore's destiny is bright, not because of our size or our luck, but because of who we are. That Singapore spirit – indomitable grit, courage, honesty, discipline, diligence, rectitude and compassion. These are not mere abstractions. This is the Singapore spirit that got us here, and it is what will carry us forward. [Applause.]

Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please.

(In Mandarin): During the debate on the motion of thanks to the President in September last year, I spoke on the weakening of the multilateral rules-based order. Within a short span of five months, that description is now outdated. The world order that we have been familiar with has ended.

What is the impact on Singapore? Singaporeans might not have felt it yet. First, there has been a constant barrage of extraordinary headlines concerning international affairs over the last two years. People may no longer feel very shocked when reading about issues like Venezuela or Greenland. Second, the UN and other international organisations are still in existence. Third, despite the pressures created by tariffs, our economy did better than expected last year.

But there is real impact on Singapore.

A key reason why the rules-based international order was effective was that it was backed by the US. It had supported international organisations, provided global public goods, and rallied many countries in defence of one set of rules for international conduct. Violations will be punished, with economic sanctions or military action. The international rules-based order therefore introduced a certain degree of restraint and predictability into world affairs, which otherwise would revert to “big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp”. This means more space for shrimp to survive and flourish.

Now, the international order has lost its major underwriter. The world has become less predictable, and countries now feel fewer inhibitions in pursuing their self-interest at the expense of others. This is a more dangerous world for small countries like Singapore.

While the new order has yet to emerge – and it is not clear if it will – we can be sure that contestation between big powers will intensify, as will pressure to “choose a side”.

This means greater direct and indirect risks for Singapore.

While the global environment may have evolved, Singapore’s circumstances and identity have not changed. We are a multiracial, multireligious country in the heart of Southeast Asia. Our demographic composition and location in a complex part of the world mean that we have to be crystal clear about our core national interests.

These are to safeguard Singapore’s security, our prosperity and social cohesion.

Security – safeguarding Singapore’s sovereignty. This means speaking up when sovereignty is undermined in other parts of the world.

Prosperity – promoting free and open trade, preserving a rules-based trading system, and securing our access to essential supplies.

Social cohesion – upholding the multi-ethnic, multi-religious nature of our country.

We have worked hard at building a strong network of friends and partners in the world. But since we have our unique societal makeup, identity and history, being true to our national interests means we cannot possibly share identical positions with all of them all of the time. We sometimes have to say no, after careful consideration, to friends and partners who are important to us, or express views that they might not like to hear.

This has happened before, and we must expect it to happen again. When it does, we hope Singaporeans can keep calm and carry on.

This is not easy to achieve, and made more challenging with foreign infiltration of our information space. With a diverse, digitally connected population, Singapore is an attractive and vulnerable target. The development of advanced digital tools has supercharged the ability of foreign actors to seed narratives and even mount hostile information campaigns (HICs) to advance their interests, and such activities have clearly stepped up.

If you have not watched Lianhe Zaobao’s seven-minute video explaining how AI can be used to generate sensationalised fake news to manipulate viewers’ emotions, I highly encourage you to do so. English media have also carried similar reports.

We should be particularly careful when we come across content that highlights or appeals to one particular ethnicity over another.

On the whole, we should be vigilant towards online commentaries targeted at Singapore. Some of these could be attempts to undermine our confidence or exploit our fault lines.

The first line of defence against foreign disinformation campaigns is a vigilant and discerning public. This is why it is critically important for MFA to engage domestic audiences and explain our positions as best we can.

The old world order may have ended, but that does not mean we should give up on a rules-based approach to international affairs. Doing what we can to strengthen multilateralism and international law is still relevant for Singapore as a small state.

At the same time, there is a deep vein of pragmatism in the way we view the world. We have always understood that size and power matter in foreign relations. At a time of fragmentation when trust and consistency are in deficit, Singapore must continue to be clear-eyed about our national interests, assess our options dispassionately and make hard-nosed decisions that are only in Singapore’s interest.

Most importantly, we must stand on our own two feet. We cannot rely on others to secure our interests and our destiny.

(In English): Mr Chairman, small states, like Singapore, do not have to be passive bystanders. We have agency and can do much to create strategic space for ourselves.

Mr Yip Hong Weng and Mr Henry Kwek asked how we are advancing partnerships with middle powers on the geopolitical, trade and technology fronts.

Indeed, one key strategy is to strengthen and expand our partnerships with like-minded countries, including major and middle powers. With this circle of trusted friends, we will forge ahead in critical sectors, like defence cooperation, but also in new and exciting domains, such as energy, technology and sustainability. Beyond strengthening Singapore's economic resilience and security, such ties can also bring tangible benefits to Singaporeans and our companies.

Last year, Singapore upgraded our relationships with Australia, France, India, New Zealand and Vietnam to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships (CSPs). We also established a new strategic partnership with the Republic of Korea and deepened our cooperation with the European Union. Let me elaborate on some of these partnerships.

With Australia, we have launched an upgraded CSP, or CSP 2.0, the first of its kind. Beyond our already strong bilateral cooperation in defence and trade, CSP 2.0 will anchor our cooperation with Australia in frontier areas, like cyber, digital, space and AI, for the next decade while strengthening economic resilience in sectors, such as energy, sustainability and supply chains.

An example is our Go-Green Co-Innovation Programme, an initiative under the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement. Under this programme, both governments jointly fund green innovation projects, allowing our companies to work together to develop, test and commercialise technological solutions that drive decarbonisation. We are also working together in the region on the Financing Asia's Transition Partnership (FAST-P) initiative that will help finance Southeast Asia's green transition projects.

Singapore and New Zealand have joined hands on many groundbreaking initiatives, particularly on trade. Bilaterally, our Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies – the first of its kind – will ensure the continued flow of critical goods even during crises.

Singapore, New Zealand and Chile launched the negotiations for the Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA) in October last year. It represents a new rules-based trade agreement that aims to support new opportunities for businesses and enhance trade and investment in green sectors.

With India, the fourth largest economy in the world, we have elevated relations to a CSP. A forward-looking roadmap was jointly adopted during Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's official visit to India in September last year to guide the next phase of our cooperation under the CSP. The CSP roadmap outlines concrete commitments to strengthen our partnership in advanced manufacturing, skills development, digitalisation and connectivity across the air, sea and digital domains.

Dr Hamid Razak asked about how cooperation with middle powers could be expanded to support broader people-to-people ties.

We are doing so under the CSP roadmap through scholarships, study visits and internship programmes.

With France, we upgraded bilateral ties to a CSP, Singapore's first such partnership with a European country. The CSP will strengthen cooperation in existing sectors, like defence, trade, education, research and culture, and expand our collaboration in new areas, including decarbonisation, energy, digitalisation and AI. With the EU, we signed the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (EUSDTA) in May 2025. This is the EU's first standalone digital trade agreement with another country and Singapore's largest bilateral Digital Economy Agreement (DEA) to date.

We are also exploring greater cooperation between the EU and ASEAN, as well as between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). These initiatives support our broader engagement of Europe and complement our new CSP with France as well as existing Strategic Partnerships with Germany and the United Kingdom (UK).

We have upgraded relations with the Republic of Korea to a Strategic Partnership in November last year. This will provide a platform for both sides to leverage our respective technological strengths and deepen cooperation on sustainability, AI, cybersecurity and next-generation energy solutions. It will also promote exchanges between our youths and institutes of higher learning in the arts, culture and other areas of mutual interest. Through the partnership, we also work closely to facilitate two-way agri-food trade.

We also look to do more with Japan as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. Given Japan's strengths, we will deepen collaboration in areas, like the digital economy, green transition and emerging technologies.

These partnerships give Singapore greater resilience and ensure that we remain relevant amongst major and middle powers.

I mentioned earlier in my Mandarin speech that the first line of defence against foreign influence campaigns is a vigilant and discerning public. It is important for Singaporeans to be interested in global affairs so that they can engage the world wisely and confidently. At the same time, Singaporeans need to understand Singapore's core interests and look at global affairs through a Singapore lens.

Decisions about Singapore's future must be made by Singaporeans and Singaporeans only, free from external manipulation.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Foo Cexiang, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim and Ms Eileen Chong asked about how we can strengthen trust, unity and resilience at home, and spoke about the need to build domestic support for foreign policy.

The Government has stepped up engagement efforts with Singaporeans, including students, youths, businesses and grassroot leaders, through closed-door dialogue sessions and workshops to help Singaporeans better understand our operating context and foreign policy considerations. For example, MFA regularly conducts Foreign Policy Engagement Sessions with all pre-tertiary institutions to explain the fundamentals of Singapore's foreign policy. Last month, I held a dialogue with business leaders from the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, during which we discussed Singapore's approach to staying relevant and resilient by navigating global geopolitical challenges based on our long-term national interests.

Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Ang Wei Neng also asked about how MFA is working across the Government to protect Singapore from foreign interference.

MFA is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to strengthen our safeguards against foreign interference, which will be elaborated on by MHA during its Committee of Supply.

Mr Chairman, foreign policy begins at home. Singapore's relevance to the world depends on both our ability to add value to others as well as our international credibility. Our ability to stand firm on the world stage depends on having our people's trust and support, and our ability to remain calm and collected in the face of challenging external circumstances. We can only act with confidence if Singaporeans are united behind us.

Mr Chairman, in Malay, please.

(In Malay): Mr Chairman, as Members of this House have noted, the post-World War II global order which brought progress and stability to Singapore has ended. It is increasingly difficult for us to see major countries continue to adhere to the long-established principles of multilateral cooperation, as well as respect for international law and principles.

Great powers are now more prepared to flex their military and economic power to pursue their interests. In fact, some feel even less inclined than before to be held legally or morally accountable for their actions.

The cumulative effect is a more dangerous world for small states like Singapore. Like a ship in the proverbial storm, we will feel the effects of more frequent and intense geopolitical disruptions.

But despite the rough seas, Singapore has the ability and space to chart our own course. We cannot allow ourselves to drift with the wind or waves, as without guidance it is easy to lose our way and drift into international waters. If we try to “balance” major powers or choose sides, it means surrendering our ability to determine our own destiny. Rather, we must find a compass to guide ourselves.

In foreign policy, our national interest is this guiding compass. We must continue to clearly identify and assert our national interests – be it safeguarding our sovereignty or protecting our social cohesion – and use our capabilities to chart the right path.

While the world has undergone profound shifts, globalisation continues. A global division of labour is still essential for production at scale. However, flows are becoming more selective and partnerships more strategic.

We will need to adjust to these changes by staying open, but connecting in smarter, more diversified and resilient ways. Singapore cannot journey alone – we must continue to forge partnerships with like-minded countries and deepen our engagement of fast-growing markets.

This strategy gives Singapore space to seize emerging opportunities and build a resilient economy that continues to create good jobs and new opportunities for Singaporeans. But our success abroad can only be achieved with strength and unity at home.

As a diverse, multiracial society, Singaporeans will have different views on international developments from time to time. While we have provided space for such diversity to be expressed, we have not allowed it to become a means to divide us. Rather, Singaporeans have demonstrated their ability to stay united and close ranks on issues of national interest, so that we can secure what is best for Singapore.

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked about the situation in Gaza while Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Mr Yip Hon Weng asked about Singapore’s support for humanitarian efforts. Indeed, this humanitarian crisis moved many members of our community.

Singaporeans from different races and religions came together, and with local charity organisations, pooled their resources to provide humanitarian assistance for the people in Gaza. It was heartwarming to witness this whole-of-society effort.

To date, Singapore and Singaporeans have contributed 11 tranches of aid and monetary donations to Gaza, totalling over S$25 million.

We have continued to work with regional partners in the Middle East, such as Jordan and Egypt, to support the Palestinians in Gaza. For example, through the RSAF’s airlifts and airdrops of humanitarian supplies via Jordan, which I had the opportunity to witness first-hand, and the donation of prosthetics through Jordan’s Restoring Hope Initiative. With Egypt, a medical team was deployed in Cairo in September 2025 to support specialised care for Palestinians receiving treatment.

At the same time, Singapore has continued to provide support for human capital development efforts through our S$10 million Enhanced Technical Assistance Package for the Palestinian Authority in preparation for their eventual statehood.

A few days ago, Minister Balakrishnan and I hosted Palestinian Authority Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Estephan Salameh who was in Singapore on an official visit. Besides expressing his gratitude to the Singapore Government for their generous contributions towards humanitarian assistance in Gaza, he also expressed appreciation for the Enhanced Technical Assistance Package, and the briefings on Singapore’s education system and smart nation journey. We look forward to continue sharing Singapore’s experience with the Palestinian Authority in certain areas which may be of interest and assistance.

This spirit of giving extends to other humanitarian crises around the world. When Southeast Asia and South Asia experienced a series of natural disasters last year, Singaporeans likewise stepped up to contribute assistance and support fundraising efforts by the Singapore Red Cross and other charity organisations.

Singapore and Singaporeans’ contributions reflect our shared values as a “we first” society in how we are united to work together. Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim spoke about strengthening domestic support for foreign policy.

Our sense of “we” will be more critical than ever. The foreign policy positions we take may displease major powers and external countries. While difficult, we make such decisions to support our national interest.

Foreign actors may impose their narratives or agenda, exploit our differences and pressure us to see and accept their views. But we must remain calm in judgement, clear in principle and direction, and confident in our values. Most importantly, we must stay united and strengthen our social compact.

Singapore’s success is intertwined with the region and our immediate neighbours.

As in any close relationship, disagreements in views and policies are bound to occur from time to time. When they do, we manage them on the basis of mutual respect, goodwill, and a long-term view of our shared interests. At the same time, there is much that we have done and will continue to do together.

Mr Patrick Tay asked about the emerging domains that we can pursue practical projects on, including at the state or provincial levels. Mr Victor Lye asked if MFA could play a stronger role in fostering a connected regional ecosystem so that our enterprises and young professionals can navigate these ecosystems with confidence. Mr Gerald Giam called for greater people-to-people ties with our neighbours, particularly among youths.

We continue to work closely with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei to expand bilateral cooperation and deepen regional integration, including at the state, provincial and even city levels.

Such engagements aim to foster a conducive environment for our companies and young professionals to harness new opportunities, strengthen business linkages and people-to-people ties and foster win-win outcomes in strategic sectors.

We have much to look forward to with Malaysia this year. We are working with our economic agencies to ensure the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone will herald a new era of economic integration. Singapore-based companies have already committed over S$5.5 billion in investments, with potential for further growth.

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, which is targeted to commence service in end-2026, will greatly reduce the journey time from Singapore to Johor and ease congestion on the Causeway.

We look forward to deepening our engagement with East Malaysia. The opening of our new Consulates in Sarawak and Sabah will expand cooperation and unlock greater connectivity, integration and trade. It will also enable the Ministry to provide better consular services to the Singaporeans living and travelling there. This is an example of how we engage state-to-state and city-to-city.

With Indonesia, we will continue to forge win-win partnerships in new and emerging areas like the green economy. We are exploring projects, such as cross-border electricity trade, carbon capture and storage and the development of a sustainable industrial zone in the Riau Islands.

Initiatives such as the Youth Mobility Programme, which facilitates annual cross-border internship opportunities for 300 students from Singapore and Indonesia, help maintain our close people-to-people ties into the next generation.

We are stepping up engagements with the Indonesian provinces; I visited Batam last year and had constructive meetings with their leadership and key business figures there.

We share a special relationship with Brunei. This year, we mark the 50th anniversary of defence relations. I am sure that many generations of our NS men and women remember training in the Temburong forest. That Brunei continues to allow our soldiers to train on its grounds is not to be taken for granted. We must continue to take this special relationship to higher levels.

We look forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement next year, which remains a hallmark of our relationship and a symbol of our mutual trust and shared commitment to facilitate mutual investments, trade and tourism between Singapore and Brunei.

Mr Alex Yam asked about the continued relevance and importance of ASEAN and Singapore’s role in strengthening integration. Regionally, we remain deeply committed to ASEAN.

It is a valuable platform for Member States to meet and discuss differences constructively and peacefully; and to work together on mutually beneficial issues, such as trade, connectivity and people-to-people links.

We have cooperated effectively, including during the COVID-19 crisis.

We will continue to support the Philippines as ASEAN Chair, and work with them to deepen regional integration and promote external partnerships, in the lead-up to Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship next year.

(In English): Beyond our neighbourhood, we must expand our global footprint. This includes strengthening longstanding friendships and building new ones. We have diversified successfully into fast-growing markets, particularly during COVID-19, where we broadened our food sources, strengthened our supply chains and built resilient economic connections. But we can do more.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, Mr Victor Lye and Ms Joan Pereira asked about the Ministry’s plans to engage emerging regions and encourage our citizens and businesses to explore opportunities there. We have been pursuing a whole-of-Government approach in engaging emerging regions such as Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Islands. This includes establishing new embassies and touchpoints and unlocking economic opportunities for our companies. We are also working to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to build mindshare and familiarity of these countries among Singaporeans.

For example, we are stepping up cooperation with Latin America, including growing our trade and business linkages. During President’s visit to Mexico last year, we announced a new resident embassy in Mexico City. This will be our second resident Mission in Latin America and our first in the Spanish-speaking world. We have negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur, two of the region’s most prominent trading blocs.

Our companies benefit from the increased linkages and access. CrimsonLogic is providing digital solutions in the Bahamas, Mexico, Panama, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, while Olam International operates in Brazil, Mexico and Peru to actively diversify our food sources.

We also enjoy broad-based cooperation with countries in the Middle East. We established our first Strategic Partnership in the Middle East with Saudi Arabia and we look forward to convening the inaugural Strategic Partnership Council meeting co-chaired by our two Prime Ministers soon.

With the UAE, we share a Comprehensive Partnership which spans seven clusters, from political and economic affairs to health, sustainable development, and education. We also engage our Middle East counterparts through regular exchanges and multiple ministerial platforms such as those with Oman, Qatar and the UAE. We have also bolstered our connectivity with countries in the Middle East, which will foster greater business and people-to-people links. Singapore Airlines is scheduled to launch direct flights to Riyadh in June, while Oman Air will do so between Muscat and Singapore in July. Last September, President made a State Visit to Egypt, and our two countries agreed to study the feasibility of a bilateral FTA.

In Africa, which is a key driver of future global growth, we are also doing more. In August, I met 14 African ministers and deputy ministers who were in Singapore for the 5th Singapore-Africa Ministerial Exchange Visit. This was the largest turnout for the exchange visit to date.

The Prime Minister also visited Ethiopia in November and announced that Singapore would establish an embassy in Addis Ababa. This will be our first diplomatic mission in East Africa, and our third in the African continent. It will support deeper engagement of the African Union, which is based in Addis Ababa, and support our businesses seeking to access new markets.

Finally, in Central Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Islands, we are expanding exchanges and technical assistance to foster goodwill, deepen people-to-people ties, and support their development priorities. We engage the Pacific regionally through the Pacific Islands Forum in our capacity as a Dialogue Partner, as well as bilaterally with individual Pacific countries.

Cultural exchanges have increased our familiarity with each other. For example, in 2025, a group of Kazakh artistes performed for the first time in the Chingay Parade.

We have also deepened technical assistance cooperation with South Asian countries. For example, we supported the establishment of two technical training centres in Bhutan to provide skills training in automotive and facility technology. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maldives government on capacity building during Maldives President's State Visit to Singapore in June last year.

Mr Gerald Giam asked if the Ministry will be establishing more resident Missions in the regions I mentioned. We are reviewing the need for more resident Missions, taking into account our limited manpower and resource constraints. Meanwhile, we will continue to explore opportunities to do more in these fast-growing regions, including through our excellent Non-Resident Ambassadors.

Mr Chairman, despite the transition to a more tumultuous world, Singapore has agency to shape the future we want. But we must know our interests, stay united, and we must build on our strengths. Only then can we seize emerging opportunities, secure our place in an evolving world, and build a resilient economy that continues to create good jobs and new opportunities for Singaporeans.

The seas may be rough, but with unity as our compass and our strengths as the keel, Singapore will not drift along with global tides. We will chart our own course and sail forward with purpose. Like in Greek mythology, Atlas who bears the weight of the heavens, a small nation survives not by size, but by strength, in unity and with resilience – so will Singapore. [Applause.]

Mr Chairman, much has been said about the changing international order. Against the backdrop of a world that is marked by geopolitical competition and great power rivalry, MFA’s work has become more salient. To safeguard Singapore’s national interests, we need to expand our international partnerships and support a rules-based multilateral approach towards solving global challenges like climate change. I will talk about how Singapore supports the development of other countries, and how MFA provides consular assistance to Singaporeans who need help overseas.

At the 2025 S Rajaratnam Lecture, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set out how Singapore must meet the challenge of an increasingly uncertain world. Rather than retreat, he urged us to “reach out; not to build barriers, but to build bridges”.

We believe in the transformative role of human capital in driving social progress and economic prosperity of a nation. This is Singapore's development story. It is a story that we are happy to share to help others in their development journey.

This was why Singapore started the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) in 1992, to enhance the capabilities of developing nations through capacity building and knowledge sharing. Through SCP, we built bridges that support and connect countries.

To a large extent, the SCP is our way of paying it forward after having received assistance from our foreign friends during our early years of Independence. Our investment in development partnerships also forms a key part of our strategy to engage with the global South and create future opportunities for collaboration.

Assoc Prof Kenneth Goh asked about strengthening our capacity-building platforms. We have revamped MFA's Development Partnership Directorate to better integrate Singapore's development assistance across Government agencies, international organisations and foundations to deliver the best possible outcomes. We are now better able to mobilise Singapore's full ecosystem – combining policy expertise, industry capabilities and practical know-how – and expand our focus to new domains, such as the digital economy and climate resilience.

Our development partnerships span over 180 countries and territories. Altogether, we have supported more than 163,000 foreign officials through training and capacity-building programmes.

The ASEAN region is especially important as 60% of the SCP's participants hail from Southeast Asia. Programmes such as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, aim to narrow the development gap within ASEAN and enhance regional integration, while we tailor customised bilateral programmes for countries' specific development needs. Our capacity building initiatives in Southeast Asia extend to both major cities as well as cities in the provinces, such as Batam and East Java in Indonesia, as well as Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

One of our key focus is supporting ASEAN's newest member, Timor-Leste, in its capacity-building. It is in Singapore's interest for Timor Leste to become a successful and contributing member of ASEAN. In 2025, we launched an enhanced Singapore-Timor Leste ASEAN Readiness Support (eSTARS) package.

The eSTARS package helps to familiarise Timorese officials with important aspects of ASEAN, including key ASEAN economic agreements. For example, MFA co-organised a two-day training programme last year, conducted in Dili by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)-ASEAN Studies Centre, on key ASEAN issues and ASEAN's work. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão said during his visit to Singapore last year that Singapore's support has made "a real difference" and reflected a friendship that was "measured in actions, not words".

For the African region, our most recent development assistance programme, the Singapore-Africa Partnership Leading to Growth and Sustainability (SAPLINGS) Package, was launched by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his bilateral visit to Ethiopia in November 2025. Under SAPLINGS, we welcome African officials to visit Singapore on customised study visits and education programmes to learn about our development journey and also, to exchange learning points.

Dr Hamid Razak asked about expanding Singapore's networks with middle powers and international organisations. We are working with like-minded partners to pool our strengths in delivering and developing assistance programmes to third parties. Such partnerships allow us to amplify our contributions and ensure that our development assistance is relevant, sustainable and impactful.

We have nearly 30 third-country training programmes today. In Latin America, we are partnering Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina to deliver courses to officials in ASEAN, Latin America and the Caribbean, on digitalisation, food safety and disaster risk management. Our Regional Training Centres in Oman, Jordan and Qatar train officials from Middle East, Asia and Africa on topics, such as public governance and digitalisation.

Closer to home, we have also refreshed our partnerships with China, Australia and Korea to conduct courses on topics, such as sustainable development and green economy. In addition, we launched a new training programme with New Zealand in 2025 for the Pacific islands on leadership training for the public service.

We have also forged development partnerships with international organisations, just to name a few – the United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, World Bank, International Civil Aviation Organization and International Maritime Organization.

With the IMF, we worked with the IMF-Singapore Training Institute and IMF Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre to provide training for senior finance officials from the Pacific Island countries.

We also started a collaboration with Google to tap on private sector expertise into our programme for AI Policy Leaders.

Collectively, these efforts allow Singapore to play a part in the capacity-building needs of developing countries. This is especially salient today when there are fewer global resources available to support development assistance. Our programmes and partnerships profile Singapore as a responsible member of the global community and pave the way forward for further collaboration.

Mr Chairman, even as we expand our external partnerships, we remain deeply focused on our core mission: caring for Singaporeans overseas. Ms Joan Pereira asked about how MFA is strengthening consular service to Singaporeans.

Today, more Singaporeans live, work, study and travel abroad than ever before. In 2025, Singapore residents made a total of 10.6 million overseas trips. Some encounter unfortunate situations while overseas and require consular assistance.

The nature of consular cases handled by our officers has increased in complexity, as geopolitical conflict and natural disasters can sometimes strike without warning. To better equip our teams to handle consular cases, MFA is strengthening our capabilities and systems. We are leveraging on digital tools to serve Singaporeans more efficiently.

We have enhanced our eRegister system so that Singaporeans travelling overseas can now easily eRegister using their Singpass. In 2025, more than 600,000 Singaporeans eRegistered with MFA. This was twice as many of those who eRegistered their travel in 2019.

We have also enhanced our 24/7 Consular Response Centre to provide effective and timely support. The Centre operates around the clock and keeps a watchful eye on developments worldwide, reaching out to Singaporean travellers during emergencies.

Beyond digital tools, human connection is at the core of MFA's consular work. When Singaporeans abroad face distress, it helps to hear a Singaporean voice on the line. Our officers, supported by the 24/7 Consular Response Centre, are that first line of support.

In January 2025, a tour bus carrying 27 people, including 26 Singaporeans, veered off the road in Lofoten, Norway, due to poor driving conditions caused by inclement weather. Six Singaporeans were injured, with three of them suffering traumatic injuries that required urgent medical treatment.

With the help of our Honorary-Consulate General in Oslo, our MFA staff, Ms Estelle Ho, maintained close contact with the affected Singaporeans and assisted them in reporting lost passports, obtaining temporary travel documents and making police reports. Estelle stayed in contact with the Singaporeans in distress until their safe return home.

In January 2025, our Beijing Mission assisted a family whose non-verbal teenager with special needs went missing in Beijing. The family was also not Mandarin-speaking. Our MFA officer, Mr Lin Jiayi, accompanied the parents during their search, coordinated with the local police, assisted in translation and offered practical assistance and emotional support to the family. The teenager was eventually found by local authorities after being missing for 12 hours.

During the Hat Yai floods in December 2025, MFA dispatched a Crisis Response Team (CRT) to assist Singaporeans affected by the floods. This included providing basic necessities, like food and water, to stranded Singaporeans, liaising with their next-of-kin and facilitating their safe return home. One of our officers helping Singaporeans evacuate to the airport, Mr Ashlyy Ashmadi, was also left stranded overnight in Central Hat Yai when his hired driver refused to return to the airport due to the floods.

He and a Singaporean, whom he was assisting, both ended up finding temporary shelter until they could both safely evacuate the next day. So, when Ashlyy said that he understood what Singaporeans were experiencing, he truly meant it!

Apart from our Overseas Missions, we have Honorary Consuls-General (HCG) or Honorary Consuls in 30 countries, which extends the reach of our consular assistance. However, in countries where we do not have resident embassies or HCGs, cooperation with our close partners is key. Miss Rachel Ong asked about the importance of developing partnerships with other countries to provide consular assistance.

Amongst ASEAN Member States, there are standing guidelines on consular assistance where ASEAN Missions render consular assistance to ASEAN nationals who do not have a resident Mission in the country. Beyond this, we also partner other friendly countries on the consular front. For example, MFA facilitated the evacuation of 11 Singaporeans from Iran during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June last year. While Singapore does not have a resident Mission in Iran, MFA worked closely with the governments of Oman and Malaysia to evacuate four of the eleven Singaporeans.

Our officers, based in Missions around the world, including in countries with active conflict, sometimes face real danger. The team at the Singapore Embassy in Doha were in the vicinity of an airstrike last year and experienced loud explosions and tremors while at work. MFA officers in Moscow and Tel Aviv have had to seek shelter during drone attacks on their host cities.

Despite these dangerous moments, our officers have never once asked to leave their posts to come home.

Consular work is not easy, but MFA officers, like Estelle, Jia Yi and Ashlyy, do this out of a deep sense of desire and responsibility to help Singaporeans in times of need. I thank them for their dedication.

Mr Chairman, in an increasingly turbulent world, MFA needs to be sharp in safeguarding Singapore's national interests. We may be a tiny red dot, but we have agency, we are united and we leave no one behind. I have been with MFA for eight months and I am tremendously proud to be part of the MFA team. The MFA team will continue to work with determination and agility to protect Singapore's interest and support Singaporeans no matter where they are in the world. [Applause.]

Sir, I thank the Minister for reaffirming our commitment to ASEAN. Since ASEAN Secretariat plays such a key role in ASEAN, can the Minister share how many Singaporeans are currently among the over 270 staff at the secretariat, besides the current Deputy Secretary-General? And how many more are going to be seconded there, especially in preparation for Singapore's chairmanship in 2027?

Secondly, on people-to-people relations, does MFA work with Ministry of Education (MOE), SportsSG, National Sports Association and Youth Cultural Organisations to use regional competitions and performances as platforms for deeper people-to-people exchanges with our ASEAN neighbours? I asked this because, if this is not done deliberately, there may be a tendency for participants to mingle, mainly with their own compatriots, especially when they are there in large groups.

I do not have the specific number. Maybe Member can file a Parliamentary Question (PQ) for that and I will provide it to Member later.

On Member's second point on people-to-people relations, this is absolutely critical. And I would say it goes beyond MOE. It goes beyond Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), but even when people make trips and sometimes with their organisations or religious organisations, these are all avenues in which deeper understanding and stronger people-to-people relations are built. I will give you some examples, because I used to be; in those days, it was called MCYS. And I can assure you that our athletes in the sporting villages do not confine their interactions to only Singaporeans, or indeed, even people from our immediate neighbourhood. So, that is going on.

A second example I will give you is that you will be surprised how much goodwill is generated by trips made by volunteers, to do projects which you may consider quite prosaic – whether it is digging a well, a ditch, improving sanitation, as well as more sophisticated volunteer projects where surgeons go repair cleft lips, cleft palates or provide primary healthcare. So, all these things add up and it makes a difference to the sense, the consciousness of an ASEAN identity and that Singaporeans do care for our neighbourhood and our people in ASEAN and that we do make a positive contribution.

Thank you, Chairman. I just wanted to build on Member Gerald Giam's question about the person-to-person exchanges through sports to bring up the idea of sports and arts events as a strategy for diplomacy.

I bring that up because I had the honour of and privilege of being a part of the World Aquatics Championships last year. I saw all the opportunities for establishing diplomatic ties in such events. Yes, the trade, the economy, the transport, defence, energy – all these priorities are important and they are critical. But I think the sports and the arts and cultural events, they play a part as well. I will give you another example. We are currently hosting the Smash Table Tennis competition, and just a few days ago, our table tennis duo Izaac Quek and Koen Pang, through a show of sportsmanship to their Argentinian competitors, I think it really displayed Singaporean's reputation for trust, respect for fair play and respect for the law. And I think they probably made a few good friends through that exchange, which helps with our outreach to Latin America, which Minister of State Zhulkarnain mentioned as well.

So, I was wondering if we can be more deliberate about using arts and sports events and hosting these events here as part of our strategy for diplomacy.

Well, in short, I completely agree with you. And that is why we have indeed been hosting these events and in your own capacity as a national athlete and also as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice. And I cannot emphasise enough how much our national athletes and artists and other creative personnel are actually ambassadors for Singapore. You fly the flag for us and you fly it well. And I want to express my appreciation to every athlete and artist.

Thank you, Mr Chairman. I think there is broad consensus in this House that foreign policy begins at home. I have one clarification, about the various engagement sessions that MFA conducts. I would like to ask what are MFA's benchmarks for whether such sessions are effective in building durable understanding and whether MFA tests or tracks these, since they do durable understanding of the public does serve as a strong foundation for us to make hard choices and to sustain them?

Well, I know where the Member is coming from as a former diplomat. I think first, she will agree with me that we need to do these engagement sessions and Mr Foo Cexiang has also emphasised that. It is not a morality play, it is not a simple binary black and white, good and evil, and that there may be multiple answers. But what is more important is understanding and understanding why.

So, the main purpose of these sessions is to provide safe and open candid platforms for these interactions to occur. We do do post-event analysis, but I would not be too caught up with that. I mean, yes, it will help us understand which questions are more interesting, which speakers may be more effective, but more important point which I takeaway, is that we need to do this and we need to do more of it, and we need to engage across a wider spectrum of the public, including differing views.

As long as people can agree on the national interest, can agree on why we have to adopt certain positions, I think we can courteously have some divergence on the specific recommendations. So, it is the spirit in which these engagements occur.

And the Member has been posted overseas, so she would know again. It is how we carry ourselves as Singaporeans. I am always humbled by the fact that doors are opened for us, simply because of that red passport. But I also feel an extra burden – do not let the team down and do not besmirch the reputation which countless generations have built for us to gain the unusual level of access and opportunity which all of us have as Singaporeans – as athletes, as artists, as business men, as enterprises, as Parliamentarians. I think all of you who have travelled and represented Singapore in some capacity or the other will know what I am referring to.

So, I thank all those who participated in these sessions and we will continue to do more of them.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I did not file a cut for the MFA this year, but I do have a clarification I would like to seek. I thank Minister of State Zhulkarnain. I think he mentioned the significance of setting up an embassy in Mexico, and being I think the first embassy in the Spanish-speaking world, if I heard him correctly. I just want to seek a clarification. Given the ongoing unrest and violence created by the drug gangs at the moment, what is MFA's position on our plans to set up the embassy, and will the ongoing issues affect our plans?

And the answer I said was "no", it will not affect our timeline. But maybe let me give Members a fuller explanation, since both of you have raised the question.

It is also part of Singapore's DNA that when the going gets tough, we do not leave the scene and do not abandon the commitments which we have made. And in fact, a crisis is precisely the moment to demonstrate resolve, reliability, trustworthiness.

So, whilst specifically on the question of Mexico, the Member will know that we do have a travel notice right now because we certainly do not want Singaporeans to get into trouble. But I would not change our timeline for establishing an embassy in Mexico because of all the strategic reasons for doing so, remain salient and they will notice if we were to back off.

The additional point I would make, and this is something that Minister of State Gan Siow Huang made just now. I have never, in all the decade plus in MFA, ever had an officer come to me and say, "You are posting me to a dangerous post. Can you please find someone else?" Never. In fact, the converse is true. When we had to evacuate people from Wuhan during the early phase of COVID-19, we asked for volunteers and we had volunteers who went or go onboard the plane, went into ground zero, in that sense. And again, this speaks volume to the sense of mission and commitment and responsibility of our diplomat. So, for all these reasons, I would be very, very reluctant to change plans, even in the midst of a crisis.

And the larger point during the Committee of Supply was that precisely, because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile and dangerous state, actually, if we keep our wits about ourselves, we maintain unity and we continue to have this clear eye-realistic, but principled, approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore. And that is why, do not lose hope. This is a time to stand up on our two feet, be confident and realistic and keep the flag flying high. [Applause.]