Updated July 25, 2022
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
Singapore Politics
Though geographically only about three times the size of
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every
Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9
general election since the end of the British colonial era in
million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and
1959, and it continues to enjoy widespread support. The
diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its
PAP has delivered consistent economic growth and
stable government, strong economic performance, educated
benefited from the country’s fragmented opposition and
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
pro-incumbent electoral procedures, in addition to adopting
afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the
policies that stifle political dissent. In recent years, some
United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade
observers have pointed to changes in the political and social
and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role
environment that may portend more political pluralism,
in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore’s
including generational changes and an increasingly
leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China,
international outlook. In the most recent general election,
and to maintain positive ties with all regional powers.
held in July 2020 against the backdrop of COVID-19, the
The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and
PAP won 83 of 93 parliamentary seats, but a record number
investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
of opposition parties participated, and the PAP’s share of
(FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first
the popular vote dropped to 61%, compared with 70% in
U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. In 2019, U.S.-
the previous 2015 polls.
Singapore trade totaled about $91.6 billion, and Singapore
Increasingly, PAP officials are preparing for a change in the
was the 14th largest goods export market for the United
party’s leadership. In 2015, the country’s long-time leader
States. That same year, the U.S. trade surplus with
Lee Kuan Yew died. He was widely heralded as the
Singapore amounted to $18.3 billion. Singapore is a party
architect of Singapore’s success and its rapid economic
to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for
development. Much of the country’s authoritarian politics
Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation
derived from Lee’s efforts to constrain political opposition.
agreement that evolved from the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific
Lee’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the country’s current
Partnership (TPP), from which the United States withdrew
prime minister, in office since 2004. Lawrence Wong,
in 2017, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic
current Finance Minister, appears to be the next
Partnership (RCEP), a 15-nation regional trade pact.
presumptive leader after Lee steps down. Wong led the
Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the
COVID response team and is reportedly publically popular
strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal
for his less formal style.
strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to
Singapore’s leaders refer to a “contract” with the
access Singaporean military facilities and promotes
Singaporean people, under which some individual rights are
cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to
curtailed in the interest of maintaining a stable, prosperous
counter-proliferation to cyber and space domains.
society. However, PAP leaders speak of the need to reform
Singapore and the Ukraine Invasion
the party to respond to the public’s concerns, which appear
On March 5, 2022, Singapore announced a range of export
to focus on rising living costs, wealth disparities, public
controls and sanctions against Russian entities, aiming “to
health, and immigration. Some observers praise Singapore’s
constrain Russia’s capacity to conduct war against Ukraine
pragmatism, noting its sustained economic growth and high
and undermine its sovereignty.” The actions were notably
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 has also provided humanitarian assistance to
The U.S. government has criticized some aspects of
Ukraine, contributing emergency vehicles as well as other
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
medical and rescue supplies.
2021 Human Rights Report cited “preventive detention by
Singapore and the COVID-19 Pandemic
the government under various laws that dispense with
regular judicial due process; monitoring private electronic
Singapore has performed well in responding to the spread
or telephone conversations without a warrant; serious
of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has one of
restrictions on free expression and media, including
the lowest fatality rates in the world. Public health experts
praised Singapore’s rapid early actions, including extensive
criminal libel laws; restrictions on internet freedom;
substantial legal and regulatory limitations on the rights of
monitoring of cases and their contacts, temperature checks
peaceful assembly and freedom of association; and
at building entrances, and clear public messaging. Over
existence of a law criminalizing consensual same-sex
87% of the population was fully vaccinated as of July 2022,
sexual conduct between men, although not enforced.” In the
and in March 2022, the government lifted or relaxed many
of its health-related restrictions on public gathering.
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
past, the PAP has used defamation suits and libel damages
entrepo
̂t means that its economy depends heavily on trade.
to bankrupt opposition politicians.
Singapore’s annual trade volumes are more than three times
the country’s annual GDP, and in 2018, its port handled
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. After the United States withdrew
to Singapore around the same time. The FY2020 National
from the agreement, Singapore, along with 10 other
Defense Authorization Act included language that
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. In
focused on specialized products such as high-end
March 2022, the two countries established an annual cyber
electronics and pharmaceuticals. The country’s leaders are
security dialogue to discuss critical information
concerned about the potential impact of Sino-U.S.-trade
infrastructure, critical technology cybersecurity, and other
disputes on the Singapore economy.
issues across multiple agencies. Another dialogue on space
is among the several strategic bilateral initiatives.
Singapore’s Regional Role
Singapore is a founding member of the Association of
The U.S. Navy maintains a logistical command unit—
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a forum that aims to
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific—in
prevent disputes and encourage cooperation, and helps
Singapore that coordinates regional warship deployments
Southeast Asia’s mostly small countries influence regional
and logistics. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base is one of the
diplomacy. ASEAN’s members are Brunei, Burma,
few facilities in the world that can accommodate a U.S.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines,
aircraft carrier. Singapore-stationed U.S. littoral combat
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ships and P-8 Poseidon aircraft have performed patrols in
the South China Sea, participated in exercises with other
Singapore encourages greater U.S. engagement in Asia, but
countries, and provided disaster relief. Singaporean troops
calls efforts to “contain” China’s rise counterproductive.
have served in non-combat roles at U.S. Central Command
Singapore maintains generally good relations with China, at
and at the Combined Joint Task Force’s headquarters.
least partly as a hedge against possible U.S. retrenchment.
However, in 2016, Singapore supported an international
Singapore participates in multilateral regional military
tribunal’s ruling deeming many of China’s claims in the
exercises and several bilateral exercises with the U.S.
South China Sea as having no legal basis. Though it
military on an annual basis. Singapore operates three
adheres to a one-China policy, Singapore has a strong
permanent advanced fighter jet training detachments in the
unofficial relationship with Taiwan. Singapore casts itself
continental United States, and in December 2019 the United
as a useful intermediary between developed and developing
States and Singapore agreed to establish a fourth in Guam.
countries in fora like international climate negotiations.
Law Enforcement Cooperation
Singapore plays an important role in diplomacy
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
surrounding the political crisis in Burma (Myanmar), where
enforcement cooperation. According to some, such
the military seized power in a February 1, 2021, coup
cooperation is crucial, given that Singapore is the busiest
d’etat. By some measures, Singapore is Burma’s largest
transshipment hub in the world, and is a transit point for
trading partner, and reportedly is an important banking and
millions of air passengers, including suspected terrorists.
health-care center for senior Burmese military officials.
Singapore is part of the U.S.-led Container Security
Singapore officials have been active in regional efforts to
Initiative, and in 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border
push Burma’s junta to lessen violence, but have opposed
Protection agency signed three agreements with Singapore,
the imposition of further economic sanctions, arguing that
providing a legal framework for the customs authorities to
isolating the military would be counterproductive.
together counter trafficking, proliferation, and terrorism.
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Relations
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one of the world’s
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highest at $101,649. The country’s role as a regional
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
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