The trajectory of Singapore bilateral relations under Prime Minister Lee’s leadership – Mothership.SG

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will hand over his role as head of government to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 15, 2024.

Prime Minister Lee took office on August 12, 2004 and served as Prime Minister for almost 20 years.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, he was instrumental in advancing Singapore’s foreign policy and strengthening bilateral relations with foreign parties through trade agreements, security and bilateral events.

Singapore-US relations

2005: Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA)

Singapore and the United States have shared an enduring diplomatic relationship built through defense and security agreements, particularly during the early years of Prime Minister Lee’s tenure.

In July 2005, Prime Minister Lee signed the following agreement: Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) He worked with then-President George W. Bush in the interest of the US-Singapore defense relationship.

The SFA is a framework jointly introduced by the two countries to combat threats such as terrorism, making Singapore an important security partner of the United States.

In relation to security cooperation, the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States and Singapore was renewed by both sides in 2019 after Prime Minister Lee signed the agreement. amendment protocol A memorandum of understanding was extended for 15 years with then-President Donald Trump.

The agreement gave the U.S. military access to Singapore’s air and naval bases, as well as providing logistics support for passing personnel, aircraft, and ships.

Relations between Singapore and Thailand

2008: CSEP and STEER restart

Under Prime Minister Lee’s leadership, Singapore restarted the Singapore-Thailand Civil Service Exchange Program (CSEP) and the Singapore-Thailand Economic Relations Enhancement (STEER) conference in 2008.

of CSEP The scheme was introduced in 1998 to facilitate networking and the exchange of experiences and best practices between Singapore and Thailand’s 13 diplomatic, civil service and other cooperation clusters.

of Steer It serves as an economic cooperation mechanism where the economic institutions and private sectors of both countries come together to discuss and exchange ideas.

Such talks could be beneficial for both bilateral relations, as Singapore was Thailand’s fifth largest trading partner and Thailand was Singapore’s ninth largest trading partner as of 2008. Proven.

in 2015 letter Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Singapore, Prime Minister Lee told then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that “bilateral trade has been growing steadily over the years, and Singapore is one of Thailand’s largest investors. continues to be.

Relations between Singapore and China

2015: First China-Taiwan summit since 1949

On November 7, 2015, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China formally met with former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou for the first time since the leaders of China and Taiwan met at the end of the civil war in 1949.

The summit was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, where the two leaders had discussions. promoting peace and cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan.

During his visit, President Xi also met with Prime Minister Lee, and the two leaders formally began discussions on the Singapore-China Bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

2016: SAF Telex Incident

In November 2016, the Hong Kong Customs and Goods Department detained nine Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Terex infantry carrier vehicles (ICVs) under the guise of a “routine inspection.”

In Parliament on January 9, 2017, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said that Prime Minister Lee had written to the then Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying requesting the immediate return of the ICV to Singapore.

Regarding the relationship between Singapore and Hong Kong in the wake of the incident, Mr Ng said, “Singapore and Hong Kong have had good and friendly relations for many years.We hope that the issue will be resolved satisfactorily and that friendly relations will continue. “I hope for that,” he said.

The vehicle is Came back I went to Singapore in January 2017.

Singapore-US-North Korea relations

2018: Trump-Kim summit meeting

On June 12, 2018, Singapore held the first summit meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island.

Then-President Donald Trump met for the first time with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss reducing military tensions and denuclearization.The one-on-one meeting lasted 40 minutes and ended with the signing of a joint declaration. .

Prime Minister Lee held a separate meeting. Kim June 10, 2018 and playing cards On June 11, 2018, the two leaders expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Lee for hosting the summit in Singapore.

between him, Speech at the 2018 National Day Rally On 19 August 2018, Prime Minister Lee said Singapore was chosen as the host country by both countries due to its “friendliness” and “serious and reliable” partnership with all parties, and that Singapore has “secure” infrastructure and capabilities. He said that it is equipped with and a safe environment.”

in 2018 Diet response, “Singaporeans can be proud of this show of trust and confidence in us,” Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan wrote after Singapore was specifically chosen to host the summit.

Singapore-Europe relations

2019: EUSFTA

Prime Minister Lee also strengthened Singapore’s diplomatic relations through bilateral agreements, including: EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) Effective between Singapore and the European Union (EU) on 21 November 2019.

EUSFTA is the first agreement signed between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN countries and aims to ease trade between the EU and Singapore.

On October 19, 2018, Prime Minister Lee signed the EUSFTA together with former leaders of the European Council and European Commission, and the then Austrian Prime Minister.

This agreement also Introduction of new border enforcement measures Intellectual Property (IP) Rights in Singapore 2018.

At the Parliamentary reading of the Intellectual Property (Border Enforcement) Bill in July 2018, then senior law minister Edwin Tong called for amendments to curb copyright or trademark infringement on imported and exported goods.

Relationship between Singapore and Malaysia

Pedra Blanca conflict

of Territorial dispute in Pedra BlancaThe case, which began in 1979 after Malaysia claimed sovereignty over the island, was finally settled in 2008 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Pedra Blanca was awarded to Singapore.

This small island is located approximately 24 nautical miles east of Singapore and 12.7 nautical miles east of Malaysia’s South Johor state.

Past and current Malaysian prime ministers have attempted to challenge the ICJ ruling, but Malaysia ultimately chose to withdraw its challenge to the ICJ ruling in 2018 under then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

In December 2022, current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the government to consider the issue “so that we can engage in more meaningful negotiations with Singapore,” but the government said it would not challenge the ICJ’s ruling.

in 2023 Congressional Address Prime Minister Lee touched on Singapore’s Pedra Blanca development work and other issues, saying, “Both sides should manage these issues properly so that no single issue takes the lead and disrupts the overall bilateral relationship.” That’s important,” he said.

Top photo via Lee Hsien Loong/Facebook