Updated April 5, 2023
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
generational changes and an increasingly international
Though geographically only about three times the size of
outlook among Singaporeans. In the most recent general
Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9
election, held in July 2020 against the backdrop of the
million, the Republic of Singapore exerts economic and
COVID-19 pandemic, the PAP won 83 of 93 parliamentary
diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its
seats, but a record number of opposition parties
stable government, strong economic performance, educated
participated, and the PAP’s share of the popular vote
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
dropped to 61%, compared with 70% in the previous 2015
afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the
polls.
United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade
PAP officials are preparing for a change in the party’s
and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role
leadership. In 2015, the country’s founder and long-time
in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore’s
leader Lee Kuan Yew died. He was widely heralded as the
leaders have aimed to maintain positive relations with
architect of Singapore’s success and its rapid economic
China and all regional powers.
development. Much of the country’s authoritarian politics
The United States and Singapore have extensive trade and
derived from Lee’s efforts to constrain political opposition.
investment ties. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
Lee’s eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, is the country’s current
(FTA), which went into effect in January 2004, was the first
prime minister and has been in office since 2004. Lawrence
U.S. bilateral FTA with an Asian country. In 2020, U.S.-
Wong, current Finance Minister, appears to be the next
Singapore trade totaled about $93.7 billion, and Singapore
presumptive leader after Lee steps down. Wong led the
was the 14th largest goods export market for the United
government’s COVID response team, and he is reportedly
States. That same year, the U.S. trade surplus with
publicly popular for his relatively informal style.
Singapore amounted to $9.6 billion. Singapore is a party to
Singapore’s leaders refer to a “contract” with the
the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Singaporean people, created following widespread social
Pacific Trade Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-nation agreement
unrest in the early days of independence, under which
that evolved from the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership
authorities curtail some individual rights in the interest of
(TPP), from which the United States withdrew in 2017, and
maintaining a stable, prosperous society. However, PAP
the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
leaders speak of the need to reform the party to respond to
(RCEP), a 15-nation regional trade pact.
the public’s concerns, which appear to focus on rising
Although not a U.S. treaty ally, Singapore is one of the
living costs, wealth disparities, public health, and
strongest U.S. security partners in the region. A formal
immigration. Some observers praise Singapore’s
strategic partnership agreement allows the United States to
pragmatism, noting its sustained economic growth and high
access Singaporean military facilities and promotes
standards of living. Others criticize the government’s
cooperation on issues ranging from counterterrorism to
paternalistic approach, saying that it stunts creativity and
counter-proliferation to cyber and space domains.
contributes to rising income inequality.
Singapore and the Ukraine Invasion
The U.S. government has criticized some aspects of
On March 5, 2022, Singapore announced a range of export
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
controls and sanctions against Russian entities, aiming “to
2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices cited
constrain Russia’s capacity to conduct war against Ukraine
“preventive detention by the government under various
and undermine its sovereignty.” The actions were notably
laws that dispense with regular judicial due process;
strong from Singapore, which traditionally has been loath to
monitoring private electronic or telephone conversations
impose unilateral sanctions against sovereign states.
without a warrant; serious restrictions on freedom of
Singapore has also provided humanitarian assistance to
expression and media, including the enforcement of
Ukraine, contributing emergency vehicles as well as other
criminal libel laws to limit expression; serious restrictions
medical and rescue supplies.
on internet freedom; and substantial legal and regulatory
limitations on the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom
Singapore Politics
of association.” In the past, the PAP has used defamation
Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every
suits and libel damages to bankrupt opposition politicians.
general election since the end of the British colonial era in
1959, and it continues to enjoy widespread support. The
U.S.-Singapore Defense Cooperation
PAP has delivered consistent economic growth and
The “Strategic Framework Agreement” formalizes the
benefited from the country’s fragmented opposition and
bilateral security relationship between the United States and
pro-incumbent electoral procedures, in addition to adopting
Singapore that developed following the U.S. withdrawal
policies that stifle political dissent. Some observers have
from the Philippines in 1992. The agreement, which was
pointed to changes in the political and social environment
signed in 2005 and is the first of its kind with a non-ally
that may portend more political pluralism, including
since the Cold War, builds on the U.S. strategy of “places-
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U.S.-Singapore Relations
not-bases”—a concept that aims to provide the U.S.
about 630 million tons of cargo. Singapore exports
military with access to foreign facilities on a largely
consumer electronics, information technology products, and
rotational basis, thereby avoiding sensitive sovereignty
pharmaceuticals. It also is one of the top three oil-refining
issues. In 2015, the two countries agreed to an “enhanced”
centers in the world, even though it has no natural resources
cooperation agreement, and the United States began
of its own. China is Singapore’s largest trading partner, and
deploying surveillance aircraft to Singapore around the
the United States is its biggest foreign investor. In 2019, the
same time. The FY2020 National Defense Authorization
stock of U.S. foreign direct investment in Singapore totaled
Act included language that recognized Singapore as a major
$288 billion, accounting for around 80% of total U.S.
security cooperation partner, reflecting the term first used in
investment in Southeast Asia. Between 2008 and 2016, the
the 2005 agreement.
TPP was the primary trade initiative between the United
States and Singapore. After the United States withdrew
Singapore is a substantial market for U.S. military goods,
from the agreement, Singapore, along with 10 other
with $8.4 billion in active sales under the Foreign Military
countries, moved ahead with the revised CPTPP.
Sales system in March 2023, in addition to over $27.4
billion in defense articles via Direct Commercial Sales
Singapore has concluded 22 bilateral and regional FTAs,
between 2017 and 2021. In March 2022, the two countries
including the U.S.-Singapore FTA (2003), the CPTPP, and
established an annual cybersecurity dialogue to discuss
the RCEP. Singapore has a largely pro-trade liberalization
critical information infrastructure, critical technology
policy: it has a mature, globalized economy, virtually no
cybersecurity, and other issues across multiple agencies.
agricultural sector, and its manufacturing industry is
Another dialogue on space is among the several strategic
focused on specialized products such as high-end
bilateral initiatives.
electronics and pharmaceuticals. The country’s leaders are
concerned about the potential impact of Sino-U.S. trade
The U.S. Navy maintains a logistical command unit—
disputes on the Singapore economy.
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific—in
Singapore that coordinates regional warship deployments
Singapore’s Regional Role
and logistics. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base is one of the
Singapore is a founding member of the Association of
few facilities in the world that can accommodate a U.S.
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a forum that aims to
aircraft carrier. Singapore-stationed U.S. littoral combat
prevent disputes and encourage cooperation, and helps
ships and P-8 Poseidon aircraft have performed patrols in
Southeast Asia’s mostly small countries influence regional
the South China Sea, participated in exercises with other
diplomacy. ASEAN’s members are Brunei, Burma
countries, and provided disaster relief. In 2023, the United
(Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the
States began rotations of long-range RQ-4 drones from
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Singapore. Singaporean troops have served in non-combat
roles at U.S. Central Command and at the Combined Joint
Singapore encourages greater U.S. engagement in Asia, but
Task Force’s headquarters.
calls efforts to “contain” China’s rise counterproductive.
Singapore maintains generally good relations with China, at
Singapore participates in multilateral regional military
least partly as a hedge against possible U.S. retrenchment.
exercises and several bilateral exercises with the U.S.
In March and April 2023, Singapore and China upgraded
military on an annual basis. Singapore operates three
their diplomatic relationship and announced substantial
permanent advanced fighter jet training detachments and
progress in broadening their bilateral free trade agreement.
two helicopter training detachments in the continental
However, relations remain difficult in some areas: In 2016,
United States, and in December 2019 the United States and
Singapore supported an international tribunal’s ruling
Singapore agreed to establish a fourth fighter jet
deeming many of China’s claims in the South China Sea as
detachment in Guam.
having no legal basis. Though it adheres to a one-China
Law Enforcement Cooperation
policy, Singapore has a strong unofficial relationship with
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
Taiwan. Singapore also casts itself as a useful intermediary
enforcement cooperation. According to some, such
between developed and developing countries in fora like
cooperation is crucial, given that Singapore is the busiest
international climate negotiations.
transshipment hub in the world, and is a transit point for
Singapore plays an important role in diplomacy
millions of air passengers, including suspected terrorists.
surrounding the political crisis in Burma, where the military
Singapore is part of the U.S.-led Container Security
seized power in a February 1, 2021, coup d’etat. By some
Initiative, and in 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border
measures, Singapore is Burma’s largest trading partner, and
Protection agency signed three agreements with Singapore,
reportedly is an important banking and health-care center
providing a legal framework for the customs authorities to
for senior Burmese military officials. Singapore officials
together counter trafficking, proliferation, and terrorism.
have been active in regional efforts to push Burma’s junta
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
to lessen violence, but have opposed the imposition of
Relations
further economic sanctions, arguing that isolating the
Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one of the world’s
military would be counterproductive.
highest at $116,486. The country’s role as a regional
entrepo
̂t means that its economy depends heavily on trade.
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Singapore’s annual trade volumes are more than three times
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Specialist in Asian Affairs
the country’s annual GDP, and in 2018, its port handled
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U.S.-Singapore Relations


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