In a “dangerous world” where geopolitical conflicts are growing and the United States of America “no longer wants to be the world’s policeman”, a small country like Singapore has choppy seas ahead and people here must stand together to ensure steady navigation — this is what Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said today, in his speech at PAP70, the People’s Action Party conference marking its 70th anniversary.
“It is already tough to be a small country for our voice to be heard. It will be even tougher if our voice is diffused and incoherent,” he said.
PM Wong began his speech at PAP70 by referring to his first six months as the prime minister, after taking over the reins of Singapore from Lee Hsien Loong on 15 May 2024. With a touch of humour, he said, “Nothing prepares you for this job until you do it.”
Set to become the next PAP Secretary General, completing the Singapore leadership transition, PM Wong told the audience, “With your support, and support from our newly elected CEC, I will lead the PAP into the next general election.”
My hair is not white yet, but I can assure you the stress grows every day. Still, I embrace the challenges. I recognise the weight of my responsibilities and I value the trust that you place in me. I pledge to serve with humility. I will devote every ounce of my strength to the party, to the government, and to Singapore.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
Former PM Lee now serves as Senior Minister in the Cabinet. In his speech at PAP70, he outlined the leadership transition that began a few years ago, culminating in the May 15 change of guard. “That transition, I am happy to say, has gone very smoothly,” said SM Lee.
Once the transition is complete, with PM Wong taking over as PAP Secretary General from SM Lee, the latter will “continue on, in the CEC, in a supporting and advisory role”.
In the CEC, as in the Cabinet, I will neither be the first responder, [and] neither will I be the final decider. Instead, I will do my best to support the new secretary general; to offer him the benefit of my experience, to help him to strengthen the party, and mobilise the support of Singaporeans to collectively tackle our problems and the challenges ahead of us.
Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong
End of Pax Americana means a “far more dangerous” world
Speaking in detail of the global and local challenges that Singapore already faces and will face in the coming years, PM Wong said, “We are embarking on our next phase of nation-building under very trying circumstances. I’ve been busy with several overseas work trips [in] these past few months [such as APEC Peru and Rio G20]… I have had good discussions with many counterparts in these meetings; everyone is worried, because we are in a far more dangerous world today.”
“There are major wars raging in Europe and the Middle East,” said PM Wong, referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas war. “US and China relations are in a more challenging phase. And there are many moving pieces geopolitically, where things can go easily wrong.”
The prime minister said that “for decades”, Singapore and other “countries everywhere” had benefited from the “American-led global order”.
“We say this is Pax Americana, in Latin,” said PM Wong. “That means a world with America as the dominant power, supported by multilateral institutions like the United Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, the International Court of Justice, and so on, shaping international norms and behaviours.”
But, “now the situation is changing”, said PM Wong. “America is still pre-eminent, but it no longer wants to be the world’s policeman.”
The re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States means a focus on his “America first” policy, where America is no longer willing to pay the high price of upholding the global order. Elsewhere, the “rising powers” China and India are still busy with their own affairs and are not ready for “larger global responsibilities”.
“And so the world is in flux. The established norms are fading, but a new order is not yet in place,” he said. “Amidst this vacuum of global leadership, we can expect more conflicts and instability in the world — because state and non-state actors will be emboldened to test boundaries, often with little or no consequence.”
As examples, PM Wong mentioned the “egregious breach of the United Nations charter and territorial sovereignty” of Ukraine; the “horrendous terrorist attack” on Israel, and the resulting “cataclysmic humanitarian tragedy”.
Ideally, he said, the “major powers of this world” should come together and work together to “stop the conflicts, stop the wars, [and] tackle shared challenges like climate change and nuclear proliferation”. Otherwise, he added, “we can’t look forward to a shared future”. Unfortunately, “deep suspicion and mistrust” between America and China made it “harder to find common ground”.
Also read: Singapore ready to host APEC Summit in 2030, says PM Wong in Peru at 2024 meet
These “realities of the world” were here to stay for some time, said PM Wong. “I think we will have to grapple with this perhaps for the next decade or beyond.” For Singapore, he said, “it means we will find it more difficult to make a living and keep ourselves safe”.
PM Wong seemed to hint at possible territorial or economic aggression against Singapore, when he said, “Other countries may test our limits and we must be ready to stand firm and defend our interest. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to make friends with everyone — big and small, near and far.”
Above all, we must remain united as one united people. Singaporeans are bound to have different views on global developments, whether it be the actions of America or China, or the wars in Europe or the Middle East; but we cannot let our differences pull us apart. It is already tough to be a small country for our voice to be heard. It will be even tougher if our voice is diffused and incoherent. At the end of the day, we must consider the larger national interest and take a united position. Then we can speak with one voice on the world stage.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
A show of unity among Singaporeans would enable the country to be “valued” as a safe, secure, stable, and reliable nation “even in a troubled and uncertain world”, said PM Wong.
“Fortunately,” he added, “Singapore’s reputation and international standing is high. We participate actively in international forums, and people want to hear us.”
He cited the island country’s participation in APEC and the regular invitations that Singapore gets to G20 summits, despite not being one of the 20 largest economies in the world.
“What makes Singapore so exceptional?” asked PM Wong. “It’s because when we speak, others know that it is a Singaporean point of view, coherently articulated by the government and supported by Singaporeans. They know [that] we mean business, and we do not waver. So without Singaporeans steadfastly supporting the government, we will not be able to navigate this new turbulent world,” said the prime minister, reiterating his call for a united Singapore.
