Foreign relations of Singapore
Encyclopedia
Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 175 countries although it does not maintain a high commission or embassy in many of those countries. It is a member of the United Nations
, the Commonwealth
, ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement
.
Due to obvious geographical reasons, relations with Malaysia and Indonesia are most important. Historical baggage, including the traumatic separation from Malaysia, and Konfrontasi with Indonesia, have caused a siege mentality of sorts. Singapore enjoys good relations with the United Kingdom
which shares ties in the Five Power Defence Arrangements
(FPDA
) along with Malaysia, Australia
and New Zealand
. Good relations are also maintained with the United States; the US is perceived as a stabilizing force in the region to counterbalance the regional powers.
Singapore supports the concept of Southeast Asia
n regionalism and plays an active role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), of which Singapore is a founding member. Singapore is also a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which has its Secretariat in Singapore.
As part of its role in the United Nations, Singapore held a rotational seat on the UN Security Council from 2001-2002. It participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait
, Angola
, Namibia
, Cambodia
, and East Timor
.
; they perceive a Hobbesian world where might makes right. The resultant siege mentality
is due to Singapore’s geographical weaknesses, mistrust of Malaysia and Indonesia due to historical baggage, and from how she stands out as a "little red dot in a sea of green", as then-President Habibie of Indonesia put it.
Singapore's first foreign minister was S. Rajaratnam, and her foreign policy still bears his imprimatur. Rajaratnam originally framed Singapore’s foreign policy, taking into account "the jungle of international politics", and was wary of foreign policy "on the basis of permanent enemies." In 1966, S. Rajaratnam saw Singapore’s challenge as ensuring her sustained survival, peace, and prosperity in a region suffering from mutual jealousies, internal violence, economic disintegration and great power conflicts.
In accordance with this worldview, Singapore’s foreign policy is aimed at maintaining friendly relations with all countries, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and ASEAN, and ensuring that her actions do not exacerbate her neighbors’ insecurities. In 1972, Rajaratnam envisioned the world being Singapore’s hinterland
– integration into the world economy would ameliorate Singapore’s inherent lack of natural resources.
Thus, Rajaratnam believed that maintaining a balance of power
, rather than becoming a de-facto vassal
of some larger power, would provide Singapore with freedom to pursue an independent foreign policy. The interest in the Great Powers in Singapore would also deter the interference of regional powers.
and the Singapore dollar
are maintained at parity.
In August 2005, Brunei
's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit during which the two countries signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation, paving the way for further bilateral trade and investment.
The Royal Brunei Navy
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
conduct an annual Exercise Pelican signifying strong ties between the two navies.
.
On 19 September 2005, Vice Premier Wu Yi
of the People's Republic of China
arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit. She led a delegation of ministers and senior officials at the 2nd Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between the PRC and Singapore.
On 14 November 2010, Vice President Xi Jinping visited Singapore on a three day visit which affirmed Singapore's strong ties with China. His visit also commemorated with the 20th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Other examples of close ties between Singapore and China include Singapore helping China to build up its industries such as the Suzhou Industrial Park
. Singaporeans have also donated generously in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
.
Since 17 April 2011 Chinese and Singaporean diplomatic, official and official ordinary passport holders able to enjoy 30-day transit visa-free service for entering each others country.
A severe diplomatic row broke out between the PRC and Singapore when Lee Hsien Loong
visited Taiwan a month before being sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Singapore
on 12 August 2004. Factions in the Taiwanese media took the opportunity to highlight and publicize his visit, although the Singapore government emphasized that it was a private visit by Lee to familiarize himself with the latest developments there.
When Singapore started building its military in the 1970s, the Republic of China on Taiwan was one of the few places to offer assistance by providing training areas to the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) for conducting military exercises. This assistance is valuable as Singapore is a land-scarce country consisting mainly of built-up areas. This arrangement continues today and is an important aspect of the relationship between Singapore and the ROC, although the two places do not conduct joint military exercise nor is there any official military alliance. SAF troops do not train together with Taiwanese soldiers and pays for the logistics and supplies consumed by the training troops.
On 22 March 2005, however, the Singaporean defence ministry
had to quickly correct an erroneous report in the Liberty Times
on a joint military exercise between Singapore and Taiwan, This report caused the PRC government to demand an explanation. Singapore denied the report, while the ROC government refused to comment.
The PRC has continuously advocated the possibility of moving some or all of these military facilities to Hainan
, although this may not be taken up due to sensitivities in diplomatic relations between Singapore and her largely Islamic neighbours.
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to expand aviation rights between the two countries.
On 3 October 2005, Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong
met Indonesia
n President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
in Bali
, just two days after the Bali bombings
. They agreed to strengthen the fight against terrorism
and also discussed cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment.
Relations with Indonesia are generally good, though current outstanding issues include the bans on the export of sand, and granite
; both of which, Singapore's construction industry is reliant on.
daily. Bilateral relations are complex and have experienced many highs and lows over the last 40 years.
. The two countries also routinely conduct joint military exercises to enhance bilateral ties and to heighten the professional interaction between the Singapore Armed Forces
and Royal Malaysian Army. In August 2005, the two countries concluded the 12th exercise of the series, Ex Semangat Bersatu 05 in Pahang
.
took over the post as Prime Minister. Mahathir bin Mohamad
, the ex-Prime Minister, still raises claims regarding Singapore's intentions in a number of matters, such as land reclamation
. In 26 April 2005, the two countries signed a settlement agreement concerning Singapore's land reclamation in and around the Straits of Johor.
Both countries exchanged many high-level visits in 2004 and 2005, including the visit to Singapore in 12 January 2004 by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
who had just taken over from Mahathir bin Mohamad
in October 2003.
Singapore and the United States
share a long-standing and strong relationship, particularly in defence, the economy, health and education. The government of Singapore believes that regional security, and by extension, Singapore's security will be affected if the United States loses its resolve in Iraq.
. In return, the United States Navy
is allowed to use Singaporean naval facilities, including the newly constructed Changi Naval Base
designed with USN aircraft carrier
s in mind.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1990, the United States military is permitted to use Paya Lebar Airbase
and Sembawang wharves; a US naval logistic unit was established in Singapore in 1992.
The Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre (REDI), opened on 24 May 2004, is a joint US-Singapore collaboration to promote cooperation in tackling emerging infectious diseases. The centre facilitates the exchange of information and expertise on surveillance; prevention and control of, and research on, communicable and non-communicable diseases; and on bioterrorism concerns.
In July 2005, during his official visit to the United States
, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
and President George W. Bush
signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) to strengthen defence and security cooperation. The Prime Minister again visited in the United States in May 2007.
signed the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), which came into force in January 2004. This is the first free trade agreement into which U.S. entered with an East Asian country.
who was convicted in Singapore for vandalism
.
In September 2005, Singapore responded to the relief effort
in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
in U.S.. Four Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters
and 45 RSAF
personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas
were sent to help in relief operations. They are operating out of Fort Polk
in cooperation with the Texas Army National Guard.
as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative
to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
. Launched at Changi Naval Base
and conducted in the South China Sea
, the exercise involves some 2,000 personnel from 13 countries.
Singapore hosted the Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference
from 21–25 November 2005.
On 6 May 2004, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
delivered a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations
in Washington, D.C.
titled "Beyond Madrid: Winning Against Terrorism", expressing Singapore's view on the global challenge against terrorism.
and Singapore agreed to conduct joint anti-piracy
patrols in the Malacca Strait to increase security in one of the world's busiest sealanes. Thailand
later also joined in this effort.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
.
Due to obvious geographical reasons, relations with Malaysia and Indonesia are most important. Historical baggage, including the traumatic separation from Malaysia, and Konfrontasi with Indonesia, have caused a siege mentality of sorts. Singapore enjoys good relations with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which shares ties in the Five Power Defence Arrangements
Five Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
(FPDA
Five Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
) along with Malaysia, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Good relations are also maintained with the United States; the US is perceived as a stabilizing force in the region to counterbalance the regional powers.
Singapore supports the concept of Southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n regionalism and plays an active role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
(ASEAN), of which Singapore is a founding member. Singapore is also a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which has its Secretariat in Singapore.
As part of its role in the United Nations, Singapore held a rotational seat on the UN Security Council from 2001-2002. It participated in UN peacekeeping/observer missions in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, and East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
.
Timeline of Singapore foreign relations
- 7 August 1965 - Singapore and Malaysia sign the separation agreement.
- 9 August 1965 - The Malaysian Parliament votes to expel Singapore from the Federation; Singapore becomes independent after separating from Malaysia.
- 9 August 1965 - Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries. It is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the office currently held by K...
was established and S Rajaratnam becomes Singapore's first Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
. - 1965 September 21 - Singapore is admitted into the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as the 117th member. - 15 October 1965 - Singapore becomes the 22nd member of the CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. - 8 August 1967 - Singapore becomes a founding member of Association of Southeast Asian NationsAssociation of Southeast Asian NationsThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
(ASEAN). - January 1968 - BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
announces its intention to withdraw its armed forces from Singapore. - September 1970 - Singapore is admitted into the Non-Aligned MovementNon-Aligned MovementThe Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
. - 14–22 January 1971 - Singapore hosts the 18th Conference of the CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Heads of Government Meeting. - April 1971 - Singapore, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Malaysia, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
sign the Five Power Defence ArrangementsFive Power Defence ArrangementsThe Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
. - 31 October 1971 - The last British military forces withdraws from Singapore.
- 1973 - Singapore joins General Agreement on Tariffs and TradeGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and TradeThe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was negotiated during the UN Conference on Trade and Employment and was the outcome of the failure of negotiating governments to create the International Trade Organization . GATT was signed in 1947 and lasted until 1993, when it was replaced by the World...
(GATT). - 1 June 1980 - S DhanabalanS DhanabalanSuppiah Dhanabalan was a high-profile political leader in Singapore in the 1980s. He was appointed to several heavyweight cabinet positions in the 1980s and early 1990s under Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong....
becomes the Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
. - March 1981 - Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Ambassador Tommy KohTommy KohTommy Koh was born in Singapore on 12 November 1937. He is an international lawyer, professor and Ambassador-At-Large for the Government of Singapore...
, assumed the Presidency of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the SeaLaw of the seaLaw of the sea may refer to:* United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea* Admiralty law* The Custom of the Sea...
. - September 1988 - Wong Kan SengWong Kan SengWong Kan Seng is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2011...
becomes the Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
. - 3 October 1990 - Singapore and People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
establish diplomatic relations. - January 1993 - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat set up in Singapore.
- 2 January 1994 - S Jayakumar becomes the Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
. - 5 May 1994 - United States media sensationalise the caning incident of American teenager Michael P. FayMichael P. FayMichael Peter Fay is an American who briefly shot to international notoriety when he was sentenced to caning in Singapore as an 18-year-old in 1994 for theft and vandalism...
who was convicted for vandalismVandalismVandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. - 1 January 1995 - Inauguration of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ambassador K Kesavapany is elected for a one-year term as Chairman of the General Council.
- 9–13 December 1996 - Singapore hosts the 1st WTO Ministerial Conference.
- 15 January 1998 - Singapore and United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
announces agreement for US ships to use a planned $35 million naval base from 2000. - 10 October 2000 - Singapore is elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security CouncilThe United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
(UNSC) at the 55th session of the UN General Assembly. - 14 November 2000 - Singapore and New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
sign Agreement on Closer Economic Partnership, Singapore's first bilateral Free Trade Agreement. - 1 January 2001 - Singapore starts its two-year term in the United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security CouncilThe United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
. - January 2001 - A pipeline feeding gas to Singapore from IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
's Natuna field in South China SeaSouth China SeaThe South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
opens. - 13 January 2002 - Singapore and JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
sign the Japan-Singapore Economic Agreement. - April 2003 - SARS virus outbreak in Singapore and other parts of Asia.
- 6 May 2003 - Singapore and United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sign the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USS-FTA). - 12 January 2004 - The new Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad BadawiAbdullah Ahmad BadawiTun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
makes his introductory visit to Singapore. - 13 August 2004 - Yeo Yong-Boon George becomes the Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore)The Minister for Foreign Affairs is head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a member of the Cabinet of Singapore....
. - 26 April 2005 - Singapore and Malaysia sign a settlement agreement concerning land reclamation in and around the Straits of JohorStraits of JohorThe Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....
. - 15–17 August 2005 - Singapore hosted a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise, codename Exercise Deep SabreExercise Deep SabreExercise Deep Sabre is a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise conducted in August 2005 in South China Sea.Launched at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, the exercise is part of the Proliferation Security Initiative...
, participated by 13 countries. - 23 August 2005 - Singapore and AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
sign a memorandum of agreement to allow Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed ForcesThe Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
to train on the Shoalwater BayShoalwater BayShoalwater Bay is a large bay on the central coast of Queensland, Australia, located 100 km north of the coastal town of Yeppoon and 628 km north-north-west of the state capital, Brisbane. Since 1966, the land surrounding Shoalwater Bay has been under the ownership of the Australian Defence Force,...
Training Area till 2009. - 14 December 2005 - Singapore attends the inaugural East Asia SummitEast Asia SummitThe East Asia Summit is a forum held annually by leaders of, initially, 16 countries in the East Asian region. Membership will expand to 18 countries including the United States and Russia at the Sixth EAS in 2011. EAS meetings are held after annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings...
(EAS).
Foreign policy
Singapore’s leaders are realistsRealism (international relations)
In the study of international relations, Realism or political realism prioritizes national interest and security over ideology, moral concerns and social reconstructions...
; they perceive a Hobbesian world where might makes right. The resultant siege mentality
Siege mentality
Siege mentality is a shared feeling of victimization and defensiveness. It is a state of mind whereby one believes that one is being constantly attacked, oppressed, or isolated and makes one frightened of surrounding people...
is due to Singapore’s geographical weaknesses, mistrust of Malaysia and Indonesia due to historical baggage, and from how she stands out as a "little red dot in a sea of green", as then-President Habibie of Indonesia put it.
Singapore's first foreign minister was S. Rajaratnam, and her foreign policy still bears his imprimatur. Rajaratnam originally framed Singapore’s foreign policy, taking into account "the jungle of international politics", and was wary of foreign policy "on the basis of permanent enemies." In 1966, S. Rajaratnam saw Singapore’s challenge as ensuring her sustained survival, peace, and prosperity in a region suffering from mutual jealousies, internal violence, economic disintegration and great power conflicts.
In accordance with this worldview, Singapore’s foreign policy is aimed at maintaining friendly relations with all countries, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and ASEAN, and ensuring that her actions do not exacerbate her neighbors’ insecurities. In 1972, Rajaratnam envisioned the world being Singapore’s hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
– integration into the world economy would ameliorate Singapore’s inherent lack of natural resources.
Thus, Rajaratnam believed that maintaining a balance of power
Balance of power in international relations
In international relations, a balance of power exists when there is parity or stability between competing forces. The concept describes a state of affairs in the international system and explains the behavior of states in that system...
, rather than becoming a de-facto vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
of some larger power, would provide Singapore with freedom to pursue an independent foreign policy. The interest in the Great Powers in Singapore would also deter the interference of regional powers.
Trade agreements
- See economy of Singapore: International trade agreements
APEC
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is based in Singapore. Singapore hosted the APEC forum in 2009. Meetings between Singapore Prime minister Lee Hsien Leong and President Barack Obama took place on 15 November 2009Southeast and East Asia
Singapore maintains an embassy or High Commission in Brunei, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Vietnam. North Korea has an embassy in Singapore maintained by Singaporeans.Brunei
Brunei and Singapore have a currency agreement that the currencies of both countries can be used in either of the two countries. The Brunei dollarBrunei dollar
The ringgit Brunei or the Brunei dollar , has been the currency of the Sultanate of Brunei since 1967...
and the Singapore dollar
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
are maintained at parity.
In August 2005, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
's Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit during which the two countries signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation, paving the way for further bilateral trade and investment.
The Royal Brunei Navy
Royal Brunei Navy
The Royal Brunei Navy is the naval defence force of Brunei Darussalam. It is a small but relatively well-equipped force whose main responsibility is to conduct search and rescue missions and to deter and defend the Brunei waters against attack mounted by sea-borne forces.The Royal Brunei Navy was...
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
conduct an annual Exercise Pelican signifying strong ties between the two navies.
China, People's Republic of
On 3 October 1990, the People's Republic and Singapore established formal diplomatic relations. Since then, the two countries have had significantly an improved relationship. The governments of the two countries have tried to cooperate more closely in the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-citySino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city
The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is the result of a collaborative agreement between the governments of China and Singapore to jointly develop a socially harmonious, environmentally friendly and resource-conserving city in China...
.
On 19 September 2005, Vice Premier Wu Yi
Wu Yi
Wu Yi was one of four Vice Premiers of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, overseeing the country's economy until March 2008. Known as the "iron lady", Wu is one of the toughest negotiators in China's government.-Biography:...
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
arrived in Singapore for a three-day visit. She led a delegation of ministers and senior officials at the 2nd Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation between the PRC and Singapore.
On 14 November 2010, Vice President Xi Jinping visited Singapore on a three day visit which affirmed Singapore's strong ties with China. His visit also commemorated with the 20th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Other examples of close ties between Singapore and China include Singapore helping China to build up its industries such as the Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou Industrial Park
The China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park is an industrial park built in Suzhou, China with significant Singaporean input. In the late 1990s, the heavy losses incurred by the park caused a minor scandal in Singapore.-Background:...
. Singaporeans have also donated generously in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
.
Since 17 April 2011 Chinese and Singaporean diplomatic, official and official ordinary passport holders able to enjoy 30-day transit visa-free service for entering each others country.
China, Republic of (Taiwan)
When Singapore established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1990, Singapore wanted to maintain its good relationship with Taiwan and it strongly bargained with China to maintain the close links. Eventually, China did not force Singapore to denounce the Republic of China and it allowed low-level visits between the two. Moreover, Taiwan's trade mission in Singapore was renamed from "Trade Mission of the Republic of China" to "Taipei Representative Office in Singapore." This did not mean, however, that Singapore switched its recognition from Taiwan to China because it had not maintained diplomatic relations with either government. Moreover, Singaporean troops continue to train in Taiwan, an arrangement which has been in place since the 1970s. This is, however, a diplomatically delicate situation which has flared up occasionally.A severe diplomatic row broke out between the PRC and Singapore when Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
visited Taiwan a month before being sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Singapore
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
on 12 August 2004. Factions in the Taiwanese media took the opportunity to highlight and publicize his visit, although the Singapore government emphasized that it was a private visit by Lee to familiarize himself with the latest developments there.
When Singapore started building its military in the 1970s, the Republic of China on Taiwan was one of the few places to offer assistance by providing training areas to the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF) for conducting military exercises. This assistance is valuable as Singapore is a land-scarce country consisting mainly of built-up areas. This arrangement continues today and is an important aspect of the relationship between Singapore and the ROC, although the two places do not conduct joint military exercise nor is there any official military alliance. SAF troops do not train together with Taiwanese soldiers and pays for the logistics and supplies consumed by the training troops.
On 22 March 2005, however, the Singaporean defence ministry
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
had to quickly correct an erroneous report in the Liberty Times
Liberty Times
The Liberty Times is a newspaper published in Republic of China in Traditional Chinese. Founded by Lin Rong-San, it is published by the Liberty Times Group, which also publishes the English language newspaper the Taipei Times...
on a joint military exercise between Singapore and Taiwan, This report caused the PRC government to demand an explanation. Singapore denied the report, while the ROC government refused to comment.
The PRC has continuously advocated the possibility of moving some or all of these military facilities to Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, although this may not be taken up due to sensitivities in diplomatic relations between Singapore and her largely Islamic neighbours.
Indonesia
In August 2005, Singapore and IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
to expand aviation rights between the two countries.
On 3 October 2005, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
met Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono AC , is an Indonesian politician and retired Army general officer who has been President of Indonesia since 2004....
in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, just two days after the Bali bombings
2005 Bali bombings
The 2005 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist suicide bomb and a series of car bombs and attacks that occurred on October 1, 2005, in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta away, both in south Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people...
. They agreed to strengthen the fight against terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and also discussed cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and investment.
Relations with Indonesia are generally good, though current outstanding issues include the bans on the export of sand, and granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
; both of which, Singapore's construction industry is reliant on.
Malaysia
Singapore was formerly part of Malaysia but was separated in 1965 due to political differences and racial tension. There remains a high degree of economic and social inter-dependence between the two countries. For example, Singapore imports the vast majority of fresh meat and vegetables from Malaysia, and Malaysia supplies a large fraction of Singapore's fresh water according to two treaties. Many Malaysians work in Singapore, some living in Singapore as permanent residents, while many also commute from Johor BahruJohor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
daily. Bilateral relations are complex and have experienced many highs and lows over the last 40 years.
Defence
Singapore and Malaysia are both members of the Five Power Defence ArrangementsFive Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
. The two countries also routinely conduct joint military exercises to enhance bilateral ties and to heighten the professional interaction between the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
and Royal Malaysian Army. In August 2005, the two countries concluded the 12th exercise of the series, Ex Semangat Bersatu 05 in Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
.
Disputes
Singapore has several long-standing disputes with Malaysia over a number of issues:- deliveries of fresh water to SingaporeWater conflicts between Malaysia and SingaporeSingapore and Malaysia have a long standing conflict over water supplies.The first water agreement was signed between His Highness the Sultan and Sovereign Ruler of the State and Territories of Johore and the Municipal Commissioners of the Town of Singapore on 5 December 1927...
- maritime boundaries
- Moving of the Singapore station of Malaysia's Keretapi Tanah MelayuKeretapi Tanah MelayuKeretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin...
from Tanjong Pagar to Bukit Timah. See Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement of 1990Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement of 1990Malaysia–Singapore Points of Agreement of 1990 is an agreement between the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia and Singapore over the issue of the future of railway land owned by the Malaysian government through Malayan Railways in Singapore...
and moving Malaysia's immigration checkpoint from the railway station to the Causeway. This is resolved on 24 May 2010 when Malaysian PM Najib Razak agreed to shift the station and immigration checkpoint from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands. - Withdrawal of Central Provident FundCentral Provident FundIn Singapore, the Central Provident Fund is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. It is administered by the Central Provident Fund Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of...
funds by West Malaysians.
Improved relationship
Relations between the two countries has improved in recent years, especially since the transition of leadership in both governments. These relations improved by leaps and bounds when Abdullah Ahmad BadawiAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
took over the post as Prime Minister. Mahathir bin Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad . is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister. His political career spanned almost 40 years.Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir...
, the ex-Prime Minister, still raises claims regarding Singapore's intentions in a number of matters, such as land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
. In 26 April 2005, the two countries signed a settlement agreement concerning Singapore's land reclamation in and around the Straits of Johor.
Both countries exchanged many high-level visits in 2004 and 2005, including the visit to Singapore in 12 January 2004 by Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi is a Malaysian politician who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009. He was also the President of the United Malays National Organisation , the largest political party in Malaysia, and led the governing Barisan Nasional parliamentary coalition...
who had just taken over from Mahathir bin Mohamad
Mahathir bin Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad . is a Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He held the post for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister. His political career spanned almost 40 years.Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahathir...
in October 2003.
Europe
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Belgium |
Singapore maintains an embassy in Belgium. | |
 Denmark |
Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... has an embassy in United Square, Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... . Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... has one general consulate in Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... . |
|
 Early Modern France |
* Singapore maintains an embassy in France. Singapore and France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... maintain relatively strong relations Diplomacy Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states... . This was strengthened in March 1999 on the agreement of a "Joint declaration for a strengthened partnership" during Prime Minister Prime minister A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime... Goh Chok Tong Goh Chok Tong Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime... ’s visit to France. |
|
 Germany |
* Singapore maintains an embassy in Germany. | |
 Greece |
See Foreign relations of Greece Foreign relations of Greece Prominent issues in Greek foreign policy include the enduring dispute over Cyprus and differences with Turkey over the Aegean, the dispute over the name of the Republic of Macedonia , and relations with the United States.-Overview:Greece has diplomatic relations with almost all the... |
|
 Holy See |
1981 | In 1986, Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ... made an official visit to Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... . |
 Hungary |
In July 2005, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary Hungary Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The... , Ferenc Gyurcsány Ferenc Gyurcsány Ferenc Gyurcsány is a Hungarian politician. He was the sixth Prime Minister of Hungary from 2004 to 2009.He was nominated to take that position on 25 August 2004 by the Hungarian Socialist Party , after Péter Medgyessy resigned due to a conflict with the Socialist Party's coalition partner... made an official visit to Singapore. |
|
 Italy |
Although Italy and Singapore maintain diplomatic relations, Singapore does not have an embassy in Rome. During a visit to Rome in 2007, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades... stated that opening an embassy could be a challenge because trade and people flow between Italy and Singapore has not reached a significant level yet. |
|
 Kingdom of Romania |
1967-05-30 | See Romania–Singapore relations Romania has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore does not have any representation in Romania. In February 2002 the Romanian president Ion Iliescu Ion Iliescu Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains.... made an official visit to Singapore. In March 2002 Romania and Singapore signed a double-taxation agreement to facilitate the cross-flow of trade, investment, financial activities and technical know-how between Singapore and Romania. In November 2008, Singapore signed an open skies agreement (OSA) with Romania to allow greater flexibility on air services. In 2000, trade between Romania and Singapore was US$15.5 million, roughly balanced. The Romanian market, with a relatively cheap and skilled labor force and advantageous tax laws, has been attractive to several Singapore companies who have established joint ventures in Romania. Forte, created in 1990 as a Romanian-Singapore joint venture for computer assembly, is an example. (However, in 2006 Forte was acquired by Siemens.) |
 Russia |
See Russia–Singapore relations Russia–Singapore relations Russia–Singapore relations refers to the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Russia and Singapore. Russia has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore has an embassy in Moscow. Both countries are full members of APEC.-History:...
Singapore and the Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... (now Russia) entered into full diplomatic relations Diplomacy Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states... on 1 June 1968. The two nations engaged in trade and economic cooperation. After the start of Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when... 's term, Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... and Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... strengthened ties, participating in a number of regional meetings such as the ASEAN-Russia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. Both Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... and Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... are members of APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region... . |
|
 Serbia |
1967 |
|
 Ukraine |
1992-05-31 | See Singapore–Ukraine relations
Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... (Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... ). Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... . |
 United Kingdom |
See Singapore – United Kingdom relations.
Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... engages with the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... on a wide range of international issues, reflecting their close historical ties. As members of the Commonwealth Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states... , diplomatic relations are at a governmental level, rather than between Heads of State. In defence, Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... and the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... share ties in the Five Power Defence Arrangements Five Power Defence Arrangements The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression... (FPDA Five Power Defence Arrangements The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression... ) along with Malaysia, Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... and New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... . |
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
share a long-standing and strong relationship, particularly in defence, the economy, health and education. The government of Singapore believes that regional security, and by extension, Singapore's security will be affected if the United States loses its resolve in Iraq.
Defence
Singapore and the US are defence partners; Singapore buys a large number of weapon systems from the US, and has close ties such as the F-16 detachment stationed at Luke Air Force BaseLuke Air Force Base
Luke Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located seven miles west of the central business district of Glendale, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is also about west of Phoenix, Arizona....
. In return, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
is allowed to use Singaporean naval facilities, including the newly constructed Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base is the latest naval facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy and was built to replace Brani Naval Base. Located about 1.5 kilometres east of Changi Air Base and 3.5 kilometres east of Singapore Changi Airport, the base was built on 1.28 km² of reclaimed land, it was...
designed with USN aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s in mind.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1990, the United States military is permitted to use Paya Lebar Airbase
Paya Lebar Airbase
Paya Lebar Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Paya Lebar, in the central-eastern part of Singapore, the airbase goes by the motto of "Strength Through Readiness"....
and Sembawang wharves; a US naval logistic unit was established in Singapore in 1992.
The Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre (REDI), opened on 24 May 2004, is a joint US-Singapore collaboration to promote cooperation in tackling emerging infectious diseases. The centre facilitates the exchange of information and expertise on surveillance; prevention and control of, and research on, communicable and non-communicable diseases; and on bioterrorism concerns.
In July 2005, during his official visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
and President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
signed a Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) to strengthen defence and security cooperation. The Prime Minister again visited in the United States in May 2007.
Trade
In 2003, Singapore and the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
signed the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA), which came into force in January 2004. This is the first free trade agreement into which U.S. entered with an East Asian country.
Others
In 1994, relations with U.S. were hampered for a brief period by the caning incident of American teenager Michael P. FayMichael P. Fay
Michael Peter Fay is an American who briefly shot to international notoriety when he was sentenced to caning in Singapore as an 18-year-old in 1994 for theft and vandalism...
who was convicted in Singapore for vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
.
In September 2005, Singapore responded to the relief effort
Singaporean response to Hurricane Katrina
Following that devastation of the United States Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, sent a letter to US President George W...
in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in U.S.. Four Singaporean CH-47 Chinook helicopters
CH-47 Chinook
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
and 45 RSAF
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
personnel from a training detachment based in Grand Prairie, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
were sent to help in relief operations. They are operating out of Fort Polk
Fort Polk
Fort Polk is a United States Army installation located in Vernon Parish, approximately 7 miles east of Leesville, Louisiana and 20 miles north of DeRidder, Louisiana....
in cooperation with the Texas Army National Guard.
Rest of world
| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 Australia |
|
|
 Canada |
See Foreign relations of Canada Foreign relations of Canada The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and peoples. Canada's most important relationship, being the largest trading relationship in the world, is with the United States... |
|
 Egypt |
Singapore maintains an embassy in Egypt. There are also hundreds of Singaporean students studying in Egyptian Islamic seminaries. | |
 India |
See India–Singapore relations
Singapore enjoys strong economic and military relations with India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... . Singapore's huge Indian population has played a decisive role in this strategic partnership. Singapore has strong military ties with India with both countries participating in several joint exercises. In late 2007, India agreed to a 5 year lease of the Kalaikunda airbase in West Bengal West Bengal West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP... to Singapore for training of the latter's air force Republic of Singapore Air Force The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command... 's F-16 fighter aircraft due to limited airspace in Singapore. This is the first New Delhi New Delhi New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is... has ever leased out its military installations to foreign country on a long-term basis. In August 2008, in another significant move, both countries signed another agreement permitting Singapore the use of Babina and Deolali Deolali Deolali is a small hill station and a census town in Nashik district, Maharashtra. It has several army establishments including the School of Artillery of Indian Army and nearby Airforce station... firing ranges in Maharashtra Maharashtra Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India... for armour and artillery exercises. The agreement also provides for temporary detachment of Singapore Armed Forces Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy... personnel for a maximum period of eight weeks, up to twice a year. Singapore has been vocal supporter of greater Indian participation in ASEAN and anti-piracy patrolling Strait of Malacca Strait of Malacca The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 to 1511.-Extent:... . Singapore is also one of India's largest trading partners in South East Asia. |
|
 Iraq |
See Foreign relations of Iraq Foreign relations of Iraq Since 1980, the foreign relations of Iraq were influenced by a number of controversial decisions by the Saddam Hussein administration. Hussein had good relations with the Soviet Union and a number of western countries such as France and Germany, who provided him with advanced weapons systems... |
|
 Israel |
See Israel–Singapore relations Israel–Singapore relations Israel–Singapore relations are foreign relations between Israel and Singapore. Both countries established diplomatic relations in May 1969. Israel has an embassy in Singapore... Singapore and Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... enjoy very close bilateral relations. In 1965, Israel extended aid to newly-independent Singapore by sending a mission to help build Singapore's economic and defense policy. Israel's representation in Singapore was first formalized in 1968, and relations have since expanded, building strong economic ties and signing bilateral agreements, particularly in areas such as business, technology, healthcare, and defense. Singapore and Israel also hold regular cultural exchanges, through the participation of Israeli arts and artists in Singapore's events, such as the Israeli Film Festival. Despite the close relations, Israel's airline El Al El Al El Al Israel Airlines Ltd , trading as El Al , is the flag carrier of Israel. It operates scheduled domestic and international services and cargo flights to Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East from its main base in Ben Gurion International Airport... does not fly to Singapore as such a route would have to pass through the airspace of Indonesia and Malaysia, and neither of the countries maintain relations with Israel. |
|
 Mexico |
See Foreign relations of Mexico Foreign relations of Mexico The foreign relations of Mexico are directed by the President of the United Mexican States and managed through the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs... Mexico has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore has a consulate in Mexico. |
|
 Pakistan |
See Pakistan-Singapore relations Diplomatic relations between the two countries are very cordial. Pakistan considers Singapore, "a sincere friend of Pakistan". Singapore is also one of the largest investors in Pakistan. |
|
 New Zealand |
On 1 January 2001, New Zealand and Singapore entered into a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) to improve relations and encourage trade and investment. | |
 South Africa |
Singapore maintains a High Commission in South Africa. |
International humanitarian effort
- In December 2004, during the disaster wrought by the massive tsunami that hit Indonesia, the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed ForcesThe Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
dispatched three Endurance class landing platform dock shipEndurance class landing platform dock shipThe Endurance class landing platform dock ships are the largest class of ships in the Republic of Singapore Navy . They were designed and built locally by Singapore Technologies Marine to replace the old County class tank landing ships...
s - RSS Endurance, RSS Persistence and RSS Endeavour off the coast of MeulabohMeulabohMeulaboh is the capital of West Aceh Regency, Indonesia. Meulaboh is among the hardest hit areas by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Being just 150 km from the epicenter of the earthquake, Meulaboh was hit by tsunami, leaving the estimated deaths of 40,000 people out of 120,000...
, one of the worst hit areas where all road access was cut off. Onboard these ships were medical and engineering teams and volunteers with NGOs. The ships were also loaded with medical supplies and heavy equipment to help clear roads and debris. Six Chinook helicopters and two Super Puma helicopters were also dispatched to Aceh, two Chinook helicopters and two Super Puma helicopters to Phuket, Thailand. C130s were also dispatched to ferry relief supplies to tsunami-hit areas. - In September 2005, Singapore responded to the relief effortSingaporean response to Hurricane KatrinaFollowing that devastation of the United States Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, sent a letter to US President George W...
of Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in the United States, by sending four CH-47 Chinook helicoptersCH-47 ChinookThe Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...
and forty-five RSAFRepublic of Singapore Air ForceThe Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
personnel. - In the aftermath of the 2005 Bali bombings2005 Bali bombingsThe 2005 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist suicide bomb and a series of car bombs and attacks that occurred on October 1, 2005, in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta away, both in south Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people...
, the Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed ForcesThe Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
sent a medical team, composed of two doctors, two nurses, and two paramedics, to BaliBaliBali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
to help treat victims of the blasts at the Sanglah Hospital. (CNA) - In October 2005, the Singapore Civil Defence ForceSingapore Civil Defence ForceThe Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
dispatched a 44-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue TeamDisaster Assistance and Rescue TeamThe Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team is an elite team within the Singapore Civil Defence Force , formed in 1990 to handle complex rescue and fire fighting incidents, such as urban search and rescue; prolonged fire fighting; height and confined space operations; and water rescue.One of the very...
to PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
to help in the relief and rescue operations following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake2005 Kashmir earthquakeThe 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
International effort on anti-terrorism
During 15–17 August 2005, Singapore hosted a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise, codename Exercise Deep SabreExercise Deep Sabre
Exercise Deep Sabre is a multi-national maritime interdiction exercise conducted in August 2005 in South China Sea.Launched at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, the exercise is part of the Proliferation Security Initiative...
as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative
Proliferation Security Initiative
The Proliferation Security Initiative is a global effort that aims to stop trafficking of weapons of mass destruction , their delivery systems, and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. Launched by United States President George W...
to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
. Launched at Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base
Changi Naval Base is the latest naval facility of the Republic of Singapore Navy and was built to replace Brani Naval Base. Located about 1.5 kilometres east of Changi Air Base and 3.5 kilometres east of Singapore Changi Airport, the base was built on 1.28 km² of reclaimed land, it was...
and conducted in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, the exercise involves some 2,000 personnel from 13 countries.
Singapore hosted the Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference
Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference
The Regional Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Conference is an annual event participated by various armed forces and counter-terrorism agencies in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The conference provides participants the opportunity to share professional insights and discuss ways to enhance...
from 21–25 November 2005.
On 6 May 2004, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
delivered a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
titled "Beyond Madrid: Winning Against Terrorism", expressing Singapore's view on the global challenge against terrorism.
International effort on anti-piracy
In August 2005, Malaysia, IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Singapore agreed to conduct joint anti-piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
patrols in the Malacca Strait to increase security in one of the world's busiest sealanes. Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
later also joined in this effort.
Consulates
In addition to embassies or High Commissions, Singapore maintains consulates or honorary consulates in Austria, Bangledesh, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland (Permanent Mission in Geneva), Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Vietnam.See also
- International aviation agreements with Singapore
- International trade agreements with Singapore
- List of diplomatic missions in Singapore