Munich Security Conference: Chan Chun Sing on Singapore’s role in a divided world

Key Concepts

• Strategic Neutrality: Singapore’s approach of finding common ground and navigating divergences in a multipolar world.
• International Norms: The importance of predictability in international relations for economic growth and conflict prevention.
• Cross-Cutting Security Challenges: Modern security threats that transcend geographical boundaries (e.g., cyber warfare, underwater infrastructure protection).
• Capability Building: The necessity for Singapore to develop real capabilities and deep understanding of major powers to remain relevant.
• Convergence & Divergence: Identifying areas of alignment and skillfully navigating disagreements with major global powers.

Singapore’s Role in a Divided World: Navigating Geopolitical Challenges

The core message from Singapore’s Defense Minister, Chan Chun Sing, during the Munich Security Conference is that Singapore’s role in an increasingly divided world is to proactively seek areas of common ground while carefully navigating unavoidable divergences. This strategy is crucial for maintaining relevance and remaining a trusted partner to major global powers – the US, China, and Europe.

The Importance of International Norms

Mr. Chan emphasized the critical role of international norms in both the security and economic spheres. He stated, “international norms help to establish a certain predictability in how people conduct business how people conduct bilateral multilateral relations and the greater the certainty the better the chances of us delivering economic growth for our people and that reduces the chances of conflict.” He cautioned against a “negative spiral” where uncertainty leads to decreased investment, reduced growth opportunities, and ultimately, an increased risk of conflict. This highlights Singapore’s belief that a rules-based international order, while imperfect, is preferable to unchecked competition.

Trust Deficit & Opportunities for Collaboration

Addressing the reception of China’s vision for the global order, Mr. Chan acknowledged a pervasive “trust” issue across all nations. However, he also noted that discussions are yielding new opportunities for collaboration. He specifically highlighted a growing interest from European partners in viewing security challenges as “crosscutting” and transcending traditional geographical boundaries.

Expanding Security Cooperation with Europe

Since the last Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr. Chan observed an increased European focus on broader security concerns. He cited several specific areas for potential cooperation between Singapore and European countries, including:

• Information Warfare: Collaborative efforts to counter disinformation and malicious cyber activity.
• Cyber Defense: Joint initiatives to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure and capabilities.
• Critical Underwater Infrastructure Protection: Protecting vital undersea cables and energy pipelines.
• Unmanned Systems Integration: Combining unmanned systems with manned systems for enhanced security operations.

These examples demonstrate a shift towards addressing non-traditional security threats that require international cooperation.

Understanding Major Power Motivations

Mr. Chan articulated a key tenet of Singapore’s foreign policy: the need to deeply understand the perspectives of major powers. He stressed the importance of not just knowing what they think, but why they think it. He stated, “We have to understand deeply other people's perspective. Not just why they think uh not just what they think but why they think what they think and only so can we really make a judgment on what are the kind of things that we can do to value add to the relationship to be relevant to US China and Europe.” This understanding is considered essential for identifying areas of convergence and navigating divergences effectively.

Strategic Approach: Convergence and Divergence

Singapore’s approach isn’t about taking sides, but about strategically identifying areas where interests align and contributing value. Mr. Chan explained, “For us in Singapore, our job is to figure out where are those areas of convergence that we can work with them and make a contributions where there are areas of divergence as as we expect it to be. How do we navigate some of those challenges to make ourselves still a relevant and value partner to different parties.” This requires “building real capabilities” – investing in defense, technology, and diplomatic expertise.

Leveraging Security Conferences for Practical Cooperation

The Munich Security Conference, and similar forums, are viewed as opportunities to follow up on security challenges and identify concrete areas for cooperation. This includes collaborative projects, joint research and development initiatives, and the development of shared capabilities and platforms. Mr. Chan’s engagement with young leaders from the Asia-Pacific and the Americas, alongside meetings with European counterparts, underscores Singapore’s commitment to broad and sustained international engagement.

Conclusion

Singapore’s strategy, as outlined by Mr. Chan, centers on pragmatic engagement, capability building, and a deep understanding of the motivations of major powers. By focusing on areas of convergence, skillfully navigating divergence, and promoting a rules-based international order, Singapore aims to remain a relevant and trusted partner in an increasingly complex and divided world. The emphasis on cross-cutting security challenges and expanding cooperation with Europe highlights a proactive approach to adapting to the evolving geopolitical landscape.