Senior minister declares that Singapore must adjust to ‘new reality’ amid US policy alteration

(MENAFN) Singapore must adjust to a more unpredictable world as the US reassesses its role in global affairs, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has stated. Speaking at a Chinese New Year celebration, Lee highlighted the growing uncertainty in global geopolitics, attributing it to the US focusing more on domestic issues and shifting its international approach under the trump administration.

Lee explained that the US has become more transactional in its foreign policy, using tariffs as a tool to achieve immediate goals and exert pressure on other nations. He pointed out the Trump administration's withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement as examples of the US stepping back from its previous role of maintaining global order.

Singapore, which has long enjoyed strong ties with the US in defense and trade, must adapt to this "new reality" while maintaining its relationships, Lee emphasized. He also noted that the ongoing US-China tensions, the war in Ukraine, and unresolved issues in the Middle East highlight the need for Singapore to diversify its economic partnerships and strengthen regional cooperation. He acknowledged that while Southeast Asia remains largely stable, there are risks from tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

MENAFN10022025000045015687ID1109187788