SINGAPORE: Amid deeply worrying global developments and despite the country's limitations as a small state, Singapore is "not without agency", said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Wednesday (Apr 16). 

Singapore’s prosperity has depended on a “stable rules-based global order”. As the old order frays, a new one will eventually emerge, he said, during this year’s edition of the S Rajaratnam Lecture, addressing political officeholders, diplomats and senior government officials. 

The S Rajaratnam Lecture series is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Diplomatic Academy. Named after Singapore’s first foreign affairs minister who was in office from 1965 to 1980, the event was attended by more than 900 guests.

Past speakers include former Presidents Halimah Yacob, Tony Tan and S R Nathan, former Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, as well as Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The new order is likely to be more contested and less coordinated, and will not be shaped by the “grand designs of a single superpower”, said Mr Wong. 

Despite Singapore’s limitations as a small state, it cannot afford to be a passive bystander in the evolving landscape, said the Prime Minister.

“Instead, we must respond with agility and resolve, and actively shape our own destiny. And Singapore today is not without agency,” he added, noting that the country is now better resourced and more connected than before. 

“More importantly, we are not alone.” 

Many like-minded countries share Singapore’s commitment to an open, stable and rules-based global system, said Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister.

Singapore will deepen and expand its networks with them, he added. 

“And together, we can preserve the multilateral frameworks that matter and lay the groundwork now for a more stable global order that can emerge in the years ahead,” said Mr Wong. 

He highlighted the three key thrusts Singapore plans to focus on – contributing actively to the stewardship of the global commons, championing deeper regional cohesion and integration, as well as strength...