Singapore Elevates Strategic Partnerships
On November 2, Singapore and South Korea elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership with eight Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that deepen cooperation across defense and innovation. Singapore hopes to upgrade the ASEAN-Korea FTA next year and aims to work with South Korea to support digital transformation in Southeast Asia.
Similarly, in October, Singapore and Australia launched the upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP 2.0), committing to deeper cooperation over the next decade across peace and security, economic connectivity, energy transition, innovation, and talent development. In addition to this, Singapore progressed its ties with New Zealand to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Key priorities include capacity-building support for Pacific nations, collaboration on a multi-country green economy partnership, and securing essential supplies such as medicine, food, and fuel. Other countries that Singapore has such partnerships with are France, India and Vietnam.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated that Singapore continuously seeks to strengthen its relationships with other nations and, whenever possible, aims to advance diplomatic ties to a higher level of cooperation. Singapore’s efforts to diversify its strategic partnerships across countries and sectors signal a proactive approach to securing supply chains and mitigating risks from US tariffs.