Singapore and Germany to upgrade ties to a strategic partnership

RIO DE JANEIRO - Singapore and Germany will work more closely in areas such as security, artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy, following a decision to elevate ties between both countries to a strategic partnership.

The announcement followed a meeting between Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Nov 18.

Both leaders are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the Group of 20 (G-20) summit.

As part of the strategic partnership, both countries will increase high-level engagements and visits, given the “growing strategic convergence of interests” between them, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a statement.

Militaries on both sides will deepen cooperation on digitalisation and cyber security, while both countries will set up a secure line of communication to exchange information.

Singapore and Germany also plan to work together on AI security, including setting international standards for secure AI.

In addition, they will exchange knowledge on how to manage packaging waste and electronic waste, as well as look at coastal protection and managing stormwater in an urban environment as part of climate resilience.

Both sides will also create areas of cooperation on carbon pricing, including carbon tax, carbon credit agreements and decarbonisation technology.

In a Facebook post, PM Wong said: “As like-minded partners, this milestone paves the way for closer cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, digitalisation and more, as we mark 60 years of ties next year.”

Other areas covered under the new strategic partnership include trade, research and partnerships between schools and universities.

Both countries signed a joint declaration in 2022 to cooperate in areas such as climate change, defence and the economy.

The new strategic partnership builds on this agreement.

In its statement, MFA said Singapore and Germany share a strong commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.

“This strategic convergence underpins our common desire to promote free trade and maintain an open and inclusive international architecture,” it said. “This will help encourage greater peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.”

MFA described relations between both countries – including political links and trade and investment – as deep and extensive. Singapore and Germany also cooperate on defence, security, research and innovation, and ties between both peoples are warm, it said.

It added: “Reflecting the innovative and forward-looking nature of our partnership, we are expanding our cooperation into newer areas like clean energy, climate action, connectivity, cyber security and digitalisation.”

MFA said both countries will keep working together to enhance the strategic partnership between Asean and the European Union.

On Nov 18, PM Wong posted a photo of himself at the G-20 summit with three other Asean leaders: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

“The Asean spirit shines no matter where we are!” he wrote in the Facebook post.

PM Wong also met World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Singapore is a strong advocate of the open and rules-based multilateral trading system as embodied by the WTO, PM Wong said in a post on social media platform X.

He said they had a fruitful discussion about global trade developments, and that he looks forward to seeing Dr Okonjo-Iweala in Singapore soon.

On his meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, PM Wong said they discussed how to take the Singapore-EU partnership forward. 

He also said in a Facebook post that stronger links with Germany and the EU will contribute to shared prosperity and security.