Our fundamentals
Read about Singapore’s principled approach to foreign policy
Last updated 9 December 2025
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Overview
Singapore's principled foreign policy is based on three fundamental objectives:
To protect our independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
To secure our access to essential supplies and to keep air and sea lines of communication open.
To expand economic opportunities and maintain our relevance to the world.
To achieve these objectives, Singapore's foreign policy is driven by realistic assessments of our national interests and vulnerabilities; unagitated by sentiment, emotion, and affinities.
As the world changes, small countries have to swiftly adjust their policies and positions in a pragmatic and clinical manner. We have to live with the world as it is, not as we wish it should be.— Speech by the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the S. Rajaratnam Lecture on 9 April 2009
In transiting to a different global order, international trade unavoidably remains marked by uncertainties – contestation between major powers, climate change, global economic disruptions, rapid technological change and the weakening of multilateralism – requiring us to adapt our foreign policy decisively to these realities.
Singapore advocates for a rules-based multilateral system and full respect for international law
Singapore's survival is best served by a rules-based multilateral system, which upholds the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. By levelling the playing field for countries both big and small, adherence to this system will offer better protection for small states like Singapore.
In this rules-based order, Singapore supports core principles such as the non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-interference in a country's internal affairs, all of which are enshrined in the UN Charter. Notwithstanding, Singapore is prepared to stand up and speak out against violations of such principles when they occur, even if it creates tensions with some of our stakeholders, partners, or neighbours. In holding our position firm, we strengthen our relevance and hence are given a degree of respect and ability to contribute on the global stage.
Singapore builds overlapping circles of friends while creating political and economic space for ourselves
As a small country, Singapore is vulnerable to international developments and trends. Our survival and prosperity depend on free trade, access to global supply chains, and our role as a business and logistics hub. Hence, for us to maintain our place in the world, we must continue to uphold our reputation for stability and reliability, and maintain our national unity and resilience. To this end, Singapore must remain nimble and adaptable to global trends and developments, and strive to be an active and constructive player internationally.
Therefore, Singapore actively engages and seeks to make common cause with as many countries as possible to forge overlapping circles of friends, so that they all have a stake in the peace, stability and development of our region, and can create a stable balance of power. Underpinning these international friendships are the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and the equality of states, regardless of size. Agreements that arise from such partnerships then lay the foundation for refreshed systems while benefiting like-minded economies.
Within the Asia Pacific, Singapore has built an open, inclusive and rules-based ASEAN-centred regional architecture. Beyond our immediate neighbourhood, Singapore works with other partners around the world to advance our shared interests and address common challenges. For example, we co-founded the Forum of Small States (FOSS), which has proven to be a valuable platform for informal exchange and mutual support, capacity-building and technical co-operation among its 108 small state members.
In maintaining omni-directional, balanced and constructive engagements globally, Singapore maintains our relevance, in turn having more room for manoeuvre.
Singapore safeguards our domestic unity, cohesion, and consensus to conduct effective foreign policy
Foreign policy begins at home. Singapore’s foreign policy is for Singaporeans to decide.
Our first and most important line of defence is a vigilant and well-informed citizenry that understands the geostrategic forces at play and our national interests. Diverse as we are, it is the strength in our unity that guides our response in shaping a Singapore-first foreign policy.
This also means that we must be prepared to defend our territory, our assets and our way of life. Singapore’s existence as an independent and sovereign country is not guaranteed and cannot be taken for granted. The Ukraine-Russia war and rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait have shown that military conflicts may still arise. We must never lose the ability to defend ourselves. We cannot and should not outsource our national security and be dependent on others for our protection.
It is therefore crucial that Singapore maintains a strong and credible armed force to serve as a vital bulwark in our external relations and foreign policy.