Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan reflects on Singapore’s foreign policy, historical context, and future challenges in a speech at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum 2024.
Singapore, 27 August 2024 – Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan delivered a keynote address at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum, held at the National University of Singapore (NUS). The forum, themed “Navigating the Future,” brought together faculty, students, and alumni to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape and Singapore’s strategic positioning.
In his speech, Dr. Balakrishnan reflected on the historical events that shaped Singapore’s foreign policy. He recounted his time as a student at NUS in the 1980s, a period marked by significant global developments such as China’s reform and opening up under Deng Xiaoping, the Cold War, and regional conflicts like the Vietnam War. He emphasized the importance of understanding Singapore’s past to navigate its future, particularly as the world transitions from a unipolar to a multipolar order, with rising tensions between the United States and China.
Dr. Balakrishnan highlighted Singapore’s consistent advocacy for a rules-based world order, citing the country’s principled stance on international law as essential for its survival as a small state. He underscored the importance of Singapore remaining an open, globalized economy, resilient in the face of challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts.
The Minister also touched on Singapore’s role in international diplomacy, including its contributions to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. He concluded by stressing that Singapore’s foreign policy is grounded in upholding principles rather than taking sides, aiming to advance the nation’s long-term interests through consistency and reliability.
Source: MFA
