Updated May 19, 2020
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
Ministry developed the capacity to test more than 8,000
Though geographically only about three times the size of
individuals a day. Individuals found to have misled health
Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9
officials are subject to criminal penalties including fines
million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and
and the threat of imprisonment. The Health Ministry issues
diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its
updates on individual cases and the numbers of people
stable government, strong economic performance, educated
under care or protective quarantine, including details of
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
where each individual who has tested positive lives.
afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the
Singapore’s fatality rate for the disease was also identified
United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade
as among the lowest of affected countries.
and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role
in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore’s
Singapore Politics
leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China,
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every
and to strike a balance among the region’s powers.
general election since the end of the British colonial era in
1959, and it continues to enjoy widespread support. The
The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and
PAP has delivered consistent economic growth, and
investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
benefited from the country’s fragmented opposition and
(FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first
pro-incumbent electoral procedures. In recent years, some
U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. Since then, trade
observers have pointed to changes in the political and social
between the two countries has almost doubled. In 2018,
environment that may portend more political pluralism,
U.S.-Singapore trade totaled about $60 billion in goods, and
including generational changes and an increasingly
Singapore was the 12th largest goods export market for the
international outlook. However, in the most recent general
United States. That same year, the U.S. trade surplus with
election, held in 2015, the PAP won 83 of 89 parliamentary
Singapore amounted to $5.9 billion. Singapore is a party to
seats. Voting is compulsory, and 93.7% of eligible voters
the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
cast ballots in the 2015 election. The government must hold
Pacific Trade Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation agreement
the next elections by January 2021.
that evolved from the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP), from which the United States withdrew in 2017.
Increasingly, PAP officials are preparing for a change in the
party’s leadership. In 2015, the country’s long-time leader
Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the
Lee Kuan Yew died. He was widely heralded as the
strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal
architect of Singapore’s success and its rapid economic
strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to
development. Much of the country’s authoritarian politics
access Singaporean military facilities and facilitates
derived from Lee’s efforts to constrain the political
cooperation on issues relating to counterterrorism, counter-
opposition. Lee’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the
proliferation, and joint military exercises.
country’s current prime minister, in office since 2004. In
November 2018, the PAP announced a new party
Singapore and COVID-19 Pandemic
leadership slate, and a group of younger party leaders chose
Singapore was one of the first nations outside China to
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat as its head, indicating
report COVID-19 cases, with its first infection reported on
that he is likely to succeed Lee as Prime Minister.
January 23. Public health experts praised Singapore’s rapid
early actions, including extensive monitoring of cases and
Singapore’s leaders have acknowledged a “contract” with
their contacts, temperature checks at building entrances,
the Singaporean people, under which some individual rights
and clear public messaging. However, Singapore
are curtailed in the interest of maintaining a stable,
experienced a significant “second wave” of cases, centered
prosperous society. However, PAP leaders speak of the
in the crowded quarters where migrant workers live, which
need to reform the party to respond to the public’s
prompted authorities to close schools and most businesses,
concerns, which appear to focus on rising living costs,
steps that it had avoided earlier. As the cases stabilized in
wealth disparities, public health, and immigration. Some
early May, Singapore was poised to open up parts of its
observers praise Singapore’s pragmatism, noting its
economy.
sustained economic growth and high standards of living.
Others criticize the government’s paternalistic approach,
Singapore’s approach to controlling the outbreak included
saying that it stunts creativity and entrepreneurship and
employing the armed forces to make up to 2,000 visits per
contributes to rising income inequality.
day to search for carriers. As new cases were reported,
Singapore health officials conducted detailed interviews of
The United States has criticized some aspects of
affected individuals, requiring those who have come into
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
contact with them to quarantine themselves. The Health
2018 Human Rights Report mentioned “preventive
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
detention by government authorities under various laws that
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
dispense with regular judicial due process; monitoring
Relations
private electronic or telephone communications without a
Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one of the world’s
warrant; significant restrictions on the press and online,
highest at $94,100. The country’s role as a regional entrepot
including the use of defamation laws to discourage
means that its economy depends heavily on trade.
criticism; [and] laws and regulations significantly limiting
Singapore’s annual trade volumes are more than three times
the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.”
the country’s annual GDP, and in 2018, its port handled
In the past, the party has used defamation suits and libel
about 630 million tons of cargo. Singapore exports
damages to bankrupt opposition politicians.
consumer electronics, information technology products, and
pharmaceuticals. It also is one of the top three oil-refining
U.S.-Singapore Defense Cooperation
centers in the world, even though it has no natural resources
The “Strategic Framework Agreement” formalizes the
of its own. China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, but
bilateral security relationship between the United States and
the United States is its biggest foreign investor. In 2017, the
Singapore. The agreement, which was signed in 2005 and is
stock of U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Singapore
the first of its kind with a non-U.S. ally since the Cold War,
totaled $274 billion, accounting for around 80% of total
builds on the U.S. strategy of “places-not-bases”—a
U.S. investment in Southeast Asia.
concept that aims to provide the U.S. military with access to
foreign facilities on a largely rotational basis, thereby
Between 2008 and 2016, the Trans-Pacific Partnership
avoiding sensitive sovereignty issues. In 2015, the United
(TPP) was the primary trade initiative between the United
States and Singapore agreed to an “enhanced” cooperation
States and Singapore. The United States withdrew from the
agreement, and the United States began deploying
agreement in January 2017, but Singapore, along with 10
surveillance aircraft to Singapore around the same time.
other countries, moved ahead with the revised CPTPP.
Singapore is a substantial market for U.S. military goods,
and it has indicated interest in procuring four F-35 jets.
As a trade-dependent economy, Singapore has pursued a
range of trade agreements. It has concluded 22 bilateral and
The U.S. Navy maintains a logistical command unit—
regional free trade agreements (FTAs), including the U.S.-
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific—in
Singapore FTA (2003) and the CPTPP, and is pursuing
Singapore that coordinates warship deployments and
several more, including the Regional Comprehensive
logistics in the region. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base is
Economic Partnership (RCEP), which involves 16 Asian
one of the few facilities in the world that can accommodate
nations. Singapore faces few obstacles when conducting
a U.S. aircraft carrier, and Singapore-stationed littoral
trade negotiations. It has a mature, globalized economy,
combat ships (LCSs) have performed patrols in the South
virtually no agricultural sector, and its manufacturing
China Sea, participated in exercises with other countries,
industry is focused on specialized products such as high-
and provided disaster relief.
end electronics and pharmaceuticals. The country’s leaders
have shown concern about the impact that Sino-U.S.-trade
In November 2014, Singapore became the first Southeast
disputes may have on the Singapore economy.
Asia country to join the U.S.-led Global Coalition to
Counter the Islamic State (IS). Singaporean troops have
Singapore’s Regional Role
served in non-combat roles at U.S. Central Command and
Singapore is a founding member of the Association of
at the Combined Joint Task Force’s headquarters. The
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional forum that
country also has contributed an air-to-air refueling tanker,
aims to prevent regional disputes and encourage
an imagery analysis unit, and a medical team to the anti-IS
cooperation, and helps Southeast Asia’s mostly small
effort. Singapore also made small contributions to allied
countries influence regional diplomacy. ASEAN’s members
efforts in both Iraq conflicts and Afghanistan, and has
are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
contributed to numerous U.N. peacekeeping operations,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
including in Cambodia, Timor-Leste, and Nepal.
Singapore has encouraged greater U.S. engagement in Asia,
Law Enforcement Cooperation
but warned that efforts to “contain” China’s rise are
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
counterproductive. Of late, Singapore has worked to
enforcement cooperation. According to some, such
smooth its ties with China, at least partly as a hedge against
cooperation is crucial, given that Singapore is the busiest
possible U.S. disengagement from the region. However, in
transshipment hub in the world, and is a transit point for
2016, Singapore supported an international tribunal’s ruling
millions of air passengers, including suspected terrorists.
against China’s claims in the South China Sea. Singapore
Singapore is part of the U.S.-led Container Security
has a strong relationship with Taiwan, but it also adheres to
Initiative (CSI), and in 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border
a one-China policy. Singapore portrays itself as a useful
Protection agency signed three agreements with the
intermediary, providing a bridge to developing countries in
country, providing a legal framework for the two countries’
fora like international climate negotiations.
customs authorities to work together to counter trafficking,
proliferation, and terrorism.
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
IF10228
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U.S.-Singapore Relations


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10228 · VERSION 6 · UPDATED

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