German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz met PRIME MINISTER Lawrence Wong, PRESIDENT Tharman Shanmugaratnam and SENIOR MINISTER Lee Hsien Loong, delivering Singapore’s 49th Lecture.
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Singapore from 27 to 28 October 2026 for his first official visit to the country, where he met Singapore’s political leaders and delivered the 49th Singapore Lecture. The visit provided an opportunity for discussions between Singapore and Germany, reflecting their longstanding and multifaceted bilateral partnership.
Source: Bundesregierung/Steffen Kugler/German Embassy Singapore
During the two-day official visit, Chancellor Merz was hosted to a Welcome Ceremony by Singapore Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong. The two leaders subsequently held a bilateral meeting to discuss matters relating to Singapore-Germany relations.
Chancellor Merz also called on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and attended a lunch hosted by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In addition, Prime Minister Wong hosted an Official Dinner in honour of the German Chancellor.
The programme included engagements with Singapore’s senior leadership, providing opportunities for bilateral exchanges during Chancellor Merz’s first visit to Singapore. The visit underscored the established relationship between the two countries, which maintains a broad partnership encompassing multiple areas of engagement.
A key event during the visit was Chancellor Merz’s delivery of the 49th Singapore Lecture, organised by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. The lecture was titled “Germany and the Indo-Pacific: Partnership, Competitiveness, and Resilience in a Changing World”.
The lecture addressed Germany’s relationship with the Indo-Pacific region through the themes of partnership, competitiveness and resilience in a changing international environment, as outlined in its title. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo chaired the lecture.
Chancellor Merz’s visit provided a platform for continued engagement between German and Singaporean leaders through official meetings, hosted events and a public lecture. His discussions with Prime Minister Wong, President Tharman and Senior Minister Lee formed the central elements of the visit’s bilateral programme.
The visit highlighted the longstanding and multifaceted partnership between Singapore and Germany, with the German Chancellor’s first official visit combining high-level diplomatic engagements with an address on Germany’s approach to the Indo-Pacific.
Source: Singapore MFA
