Updated April 7, 2022
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
government lifted or relaxed many of its health-related
Though geographically only about three times the size of
restrictions on public gathering.
Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9
million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and
Singapore Politics
diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every
stable government, strong economic performance, educated
general election since the end of the British colonial era in
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
1959, and it continues to enjoy widespread support. The
afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the
PAP has delivered consistent economic growth and
United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade
benefited from the country’s fragmented opposition and
and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role
pro-incumbent electoral procedures, in addition to adopting
in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore’s
policies that stifle political dissent. In recent years, some
leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China,
observers have pointed to changes in the political and social
and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers.
environment that may portend more political pluralism,
including generational changes and an increasingly
The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and
international outlook. In the most recent general election,
investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
held in July 2020 against the backdrop of COVID-19, the
(FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first
PAP won 83 of 93 parliamentary seats, but a record number
U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. In 2019, U.S.-
of opposition parties participated, and the PAP’s share of
Singapore trade totaled about $91.6 billion, and Singapore
the popular vote dropped to 61%, compared with 70% in
was the 14th largest goods export market for the United
the previous 2015 polls.
States. That same year, the U.S. trade surplus with
Singapore amounted to $18.3 billion. Singapore is a party
Increasingly, PAP officials are preparing for a change in the
to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for
party’s leadership. In 2015, the country’s long-time leader
Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation
Lee Kuan Yew died. He was widely heralded as the
agreement that evolved from the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific
architect of Singapore’s success and its rapid economic
Partnership (TPP), from which the United States withdrew
development. Much of the country’s authoritarian politics
in 2017, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic
derived from Lee’s efforts to constrain political opposition.
Partnership (RCEP), a 15-nation regional trade pact.
Lee’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the country’s current
prime minister, in office since 2004. Despite the PAP’s
Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the
public signals that it intends to prepare for new leaders, a
strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal
clear front-runner to succeed Lee has not yet emerged.
strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to
access Singaporean military facilities and promotes
Singapore’s leaders refer to a “contract” with the
cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to
Singaporean people, under which some individual rights are
counter-proliferation.
curtailed in the interest of maintaining a stable, prosperous
Singapore and the Ukraine Invasion
society. However, PAP leaders speak of the need to reform
the party to respond to the public’s concerns, which appear
On March 5, 2022, Singapore announced a range of export
controls and sanctions against Russian entities, aiming “to
to focus on rising living costs, wealth disparities, public
health, and immigration. Some observers praise Singapore’s
constrain Russia’s capacity to conduct war against Ukraine
and undermine its sovereignty.” The actions were notably
pragmatism, noting its sustained economic growth and high
standards of living. Others criticize the government’s
strong from Singapore, which traditionally has been loath to
paternalistic approach, saying that it stunts creativity and
impose unilateral sanctions against sovereign states.
contributes to rising income inequality.
Singapore and the COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S. government has criticized some aspects of
Singapore has largely harnessed the spread of the
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) inside its borders,
2020 Human Rights Report cited “preventive detention by
with daily new cases in the single digits and one of the
the government under various laws that dispense with
lowest fatality rates in the world. Singapore was one of the
regular judicial due process; monitoring private electronic
first nations outside China to report cases of the disease,
or telephone conversations without a warrant; serious
with its first infection reported on January 23, 2020. Public
restrictions on the press and internet, including criminal
health experts praised Singapore’s rapid early actions,
libel laws; substantial legal and regulatory limitations on
including extensive monitoring of cases and their contacts,
the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association;
temperature checks at building entrances, and clear public
and existence of a law criminalizing consensual same-sex
messaging. Over 87% of the population was fully
sexual conduct between men, although not enforced.” In the
vaccinated as of early April 2022, and in March 2022, the
past, the PAP has used defamation suits and libel damages
to bankrupt opposition politicians.
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
U.S.-Singapore Defense Cooperation
about 630 million tons of cargo. Singapore exports
The “Strategic Framework Agreement” formalizes the
consumer electronics, information technology products, and
bilateral security relationship between the United States and
pharmaceuticals. It also is one of the top three oil-refining
Singapore. The agreement, which was signed in 2005 and is
centers in the world, even though it has no natural resources
the first of its kind with a non-ally since the Cold War,
of its own. China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, and
builds on the U.S. strategy of “places-not-bases”—a
the United States is its biggest foreign investor. In 2019, the
concept that aims to provide the U.S. military with access to
stock of U.S. foreign direct investment in Singapore totaled
foreign facilities on a largely rotational basis, thereby
$288 billion, accounting for around 80% of total U.S.
avoiding sensitive sovereignty issues. In 2015, the two
investment in Southeast Asia. Between 2008 and 2016, the
countries agreed to an “enhanced” cooperation agreement,
TPP was the primary trade initiative between the United
and the United States began deploying surveillance aircraft
States and Singapore. The United States withdrew from the
to Singapore around the same time. The FY2020 National
agreement in January 2017, but Singapore, along with 10
Defense Authorization Act included language that
other countries, moved ahead with the revised CPTPP.
recognized Singapore as a major security cooperation
Singapore has concluded 22 bilateral and regional FTAs,
partner, reflecting the term first used in the 2005 agreement.
including the U.S.-Singapore FTA (2003), the CPTPP, and
Singapore is a substantial market for U.S. military goods,
the RCEP. Singapore has a largely pro-trade liberalization
with $8.5 billion in active sales under the Foreign Military
policy: it has a mature, globalized economy, virtually no
Sales system in 2021, in addition to over $37.6 billion in
agricultural sector, and its manufacturing industry is
defense articles via Direct Commercial Sales since 2016.
focused on specialized products such as high-end
U.S. and Singapore officials hold regular dialogues on
electronics and pharmaceuticals. The country’s leaders are
cyber-security and a range of other security issues.
concerned about the potential impact of Sino-U.S.-trade
disputes on the Singapore economy.
The U.S. Navy maintains a logistical command unit—
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific—in
Singapore’s Regional Role
Singapore that coordinates regional warship deployments
Singapore is a founding member of the Association of
and logistics. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base is one of the
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a forum that aims to
few facilities in the world that can accommodate a U.S.
prevent disputes and encourage cooperation, and helps
aircraft carrier. Singapore-stationed U.S. littoral combat
Southeast Asia’s mostly small countries influence regional
ships and P-8 Poseidon aircraft have performed patrols in
diplomacy. ASEAN’s members are Brunei, Burma,
the South China Sea, participated in exercises with other
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines,
countries, and provided disaster relief. Singaporean troops
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
have served in non-combat roles at U.S. Central Command
and at the Combined Joint Task Force’s headquarters.
Singapore encourages greater U.S. engagement in Asia, but
calls efforts to “contain” China’s rise counterproductive.
Singapore participates in multilateral regional military
Singapore maintains generally good relations with China, at
exercises and several bilateral exercises with the U.S.
least partly as a hedge against possible U.S. retrenchment.
military on an annual basis. Singapore operates three
However, in 2016, Singapore supported an international
permanent advanced fighter jet training detachments in the
tribunal’s ruling deeming many of China’s claims in the
continental United States, and in December 2019 the United
South China Sea as having no legal basis. Though it
States and Singapore agreed to establish a fourth in Guam.
adheres to a one-China policy, Singapore has a strong
Law Enforcement Cooperation
unofficial relationship with Taiwan. Singapore casts itself
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
as a useful intermediary between developed and developing
enforcement cooperation. According to some, such
countries in fora like international climate negotiations.
cooperation is crucial, given that Singapore is the busiest
Singapore plays an important role in diplomacy
transshipment hub in the world, and is a transit point for
surrounding the political crisis in Burma (Myanmar), where
millions of air passengers, including suspected terrorists.
the military seized power in a February 1, 2021, coup
Singapore is part of the U.S.-led Container Security
d’etat. By some measures, Singapore is Burma’s largest
Initiative, and in 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border
trading partner, and reportedly is an important banking and
Protection agency signed three agreements with Singapore,
health-care center for senior Burmese military officials.
providing a legal framework for the customs authorities to
Singapore officials have been active in regional efforts to
together counter trafficking, proliferation, and terrorism.
push Burma’s junta to lessen violence, but have opposed
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
the imposition of further economic sanctions, arguing that
Relations
isolating the military would be counterproductive.
Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one of the world’s
highest at $101,649. The country’s role as a regional
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
entrepo
̂t means that its economy depends heavily on trade.
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Singapore’s annual trade volumes are more than three times
IF10228
the country’s annual GDP, and in 2018, its port handled


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U.S.-Singapore Relations


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