PM Wong congratulates newly elected German Chancellor Merz, thanks outgoing Scholz

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong extended congratulations to newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 6, and also thanked Mr Merz’s predecessor Olaf Scholz for strengthening ties with Singapore, in letters penned to the two German leaders on May 6.

Mr Merz was elected chancellor after

winning a vote

in Germany’s federal Parliament on May 6.

Singapore and Germany share a deep friendship marked by both countries elevating relations to a strategic partnership in November, PM Wong wrote in the letters, noting that 2025 is also the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties between the two nations.

The strategic partnership will deepen existing economic and security cooperation, while offering a platform for Singapore and Germany to collaborate on areas including artificial intelligence, digitalisation and clean energy, wrote PM Wong.

He also reiterated both countries’ commitment to upholding open trade and international law within a rules-based global order.

There are more than 2,300 German companies present in Singapore, noted PM Wong, as German businesses use Singapore as a gateway to South-east Asia and the Asia-Pacific regions, including through already-signed free trade agreements, a prospect he welcomed.

The Prime Minister also thanked outgoing Chancellor Scholz for his efforts in strengthening ties between Singapore and Germany.

Bilateral relations flourished during Mr Scholz’s tenure, wrote PM Wong, with the 2024 strategic partnership upgrading taking place when Mr Scholz was leader.

Defence ties between both nations were strengthened under Mr Scholz, who also supported Singapore’s navy during the launch of two Invincible-class submarines ordered from Germany in December 2022, alongside then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, wrote PM Wong.