U.S.-Singapore Relations




Updated January 17, 2024
U.S.-Singapore Relations
Overview
uncontested races. Singapore must hold its next general
With a land area about three times that of Washington, DC,
elections by November 2025.
and a population of 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore
Singapore’s leaders increasingly speak of a generational
has long punched above its weight diplomatically. Its stable
shift in the country’s leadership. Singapore’s first prime
government, strong economic performance, educated
minister, Lee Kuan Yew, led the country for 32 years and
citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes
was widely heralded as the architect of Singapore’s success
afford it considerable leverage and a prominent role in
as a nation and its rapid economic development, although
regional and global affairs. Singapore has been a stalwart
much of the country’s authoritarian practices derived from
U.S. partner in both trade and security cooperation, and an
Lee’s efforts to constrain political opposition. Lee’s eldest
advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Indo-Pacific. At the
same time, Singapore’s leaders aim to strike a balance
son, Lee Hsien Loong, has served as Prime Minister since
2004. PAP leaders say a “fourth generation” of leaders will
among powers and maintain close relations with China.
take the reins of government in the coming years, and
The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA)—the
indicate that Finance Minister Lawrence Wong is Prime
United States’ first bilateral FTA with an Asian country—
Minister Lee’s likely heir apparent.
went into effect in January 2004 and trade has increased
since. In 2022, Singapore was the 15th largest U.S. trading
Figure 1. Singapore
partner, with $78 billion in total two-way goods trade. The
city-state is also a destination for substantial U.S. foreign
direct investment (FDI). Singapore is a member of the
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-
Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that replaced the Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP), from which the United States withdrew
in 2017. It also is part of the Biden Administration’s Indo-
Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) initiative.
Mutual security interests also undergird ties between
Singapore and the United States. Although Singapore is not
a U.S. treaty ally, many U.S. and regional observers
consider the U.S. security partnership with the city-state to
be one of the strongest in the Asia-Pacific region. In August
2021, the two nations announced new agreements to

address climate change, cybersecurity, and supply chain
Despite the generational shifts, the PAP still acknowledges
resilience. The two countries also cooperate on the U.S.-
a “contract” with the Singaporean people, under which
Singapore Third Country Training Program, which has
some individual rights are curtailed in the interest of
provided capacity-building programs for other Southeast
maintaining a stable and prosperous multiethnic society.
Asian governments since 2011.
PAP leaders also speak of the need to reform the party to
Singapore Politics
respond to the public’s concerns, which appear to focus on
the rising cost of living, wealth disparities, and an influx of
The People’s Action Party (PAP) has won every general
immigrants. (Roughly 2.1 million of Singapore’s 5.9
election in the city-state since the end of the British colonial
million permanent residents are non-citizens.)
era in 1959, aided by its success in delivering consistent
economic growth as well as Singapore’s fragmented
The government of Singapore has long taken a hard line on
opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the
corruption, and attributed much of its success to clean
ruling party. In recent years, some observers have pointed
government. However, Singapore weathered a series of
to changes in the political and social environment that may
corruption scandals in 2023. In July, Transportation
portend more political pluralism, including generational
Minister S. Iswaran was arrested as part of an anti-graft
changes and an increasingly international outlook among
investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau,
Singaporeans. The PAP remains dominant, however. In the
and placed on leave from the government. Also in July, the
most recent nationwide elections, held in July 2020, the
Speaker of Parliament and a Member of Parliament were
PAP won 83 of 93 seats in parliament, with 61% of the
forced to resign over an “inappropriate relationship,” and
popular vote, down from almost 70% five years earlier. The
the Foreign and Home Affairs Ministers came under
Workers’ Party won 10 seats, a record number for an
parliamentary scrutiny for potentially renting government-
opposition party. About 96% of eligible Singaporeans
owned properties at below market rates—for which they
voted, as they are legally required to do except in
were ultimately found not guilty.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

U.S.-Singapore Relations
The United States has criticized some aspects of
port security, where the Department of Homeland Security
Singapore’s political system. The U.S. State Department’s
hopes to see Singapore make greater use of advance
Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2022
manifests to screen containers through its busy port, as well
described “serious restrictions on freedom of expression
as strengthening the bilateral extradition treaty.
and media, including the enforcement of criminal libel laws
to limit expression.” The political careers of several
Singapore Economy and U.S. Trade
opposition politicians have been marked by characteristic
Relations
obstacles erected by the ruling party, including being forced
Singapore has a pro-trade liberalization policy: it has a
to declare bankruptcy for failing to pay libel damages to
mature, globalized economy, virtually no agricultural
prominent PAP members.
sector, and its manufacturing industry is focused on
specialized products such as high-end electronics and
U.S.-Singapore Defense Cooperation
pharmaceuticals. Singapore’s GDP per capita (PPP) is one
The U.S.-Singapore Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA)
of the world’s highest at over $116,400. The value of
formalizes the bilateral security relationship between the
Singapore’s annual trade throughput is more than three
United States and Singapore. The agreement, which was
times the country’s annual GDP, and in 2022, its port
signed in 2005, builds on the U.S. strategy of “places-not-
handled about 578 million tons of cargo, making it one of
bases”—a concept that aims to provide the U.S. military
the world’s busiest. China is Singapore’s largest trading
with access to foreign facilities on a largely rotational basis,
partner. The United States is its biggest foreign investor: in
thereby avoiding sensitive sovereignty issues. The
2022, the stock of U.S. foreign direct investment in
agreement allows the United States to operate resupply
Singapore totaled $309 billion. Some 5,400 U.S. companies
vessels from Singapore and to use a naval base, a ship
operate in Singapore.
repair facility, and an airfield on the island-state. The U.S.
As a highly trade-dependent economy, Singapore has
Navy also maintains a logistical command unit in Singapore
concluded at least 19 bilateral and multilateral free trade
that serves to coordinate warship deployment and logistics
in the region. Singapore’s Changi Naval base is one of the
agreements FTAs. Singapore is an active participant in the
Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
few facilities in the world that can accommodate a U.S.
(IPEF) initiative, and participates in IPEF’s pillars on trade,
aircraft carrier, allowing for regular port visits. Singapore-
supply chains, clean energy, and fair trade.
stationed U.S. littoral combat ships and P-8 Poseidon
aircraft have performed patrols in the South China Sea,
Singapore’s Regional Role
participated in exercises with other countries, and provided
Singapore is a founding member of the Association of
disaster relief. Singaporean troops have served in non-
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 10-member
combat roles at U.S. Central Command and at the
regional forum that helps Southeast Asia’s relatively small
Combined Joint Task Force’s headquarters.
countries manage regional conflicts and influence regional
diplomacy, particularly vis-à-vis China. Singapore portrays
The United States and Singapore hold dialogues and other
itself as a useful balancer and intermediary in international
cooperative initiatives on a range of security issues,
affairs, using its strong ties to all major powers to promote
including cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and space. In
cooperation and providing a bridge to developing countries
August 2021, the United States and Singapore signed three
in fora like international climate negotiations.
MOUs to deepen communication on cybersecurity.
Singapore has also played a role in global counterpiracy
Singapore has praised greater U.S. engagement in Asia, yet
efforts, including serving as the Commander of the Gulf of
has been careful to warn that anti-China rhetoric or efforts
Aden counterpiracy Combined Task Force-151 in 2018.
to “contain” China’s rise would be counterproductive.
Singapore is a substantial market for U.S. military goods,
Singapore’s ties with Beijing are multifaceted and extend to
with $8.38 billion in active sales under the Foreign Military
cultural, political, educational, and, increasingly, defense
Sales system in March 2023. In addition, from 2019
exchanges. Singapore adheres to a one-China policy, but
through 2021, the United States authorized the permanent
has an extensive relationship with Taiwan, including an
export of over $26.3 billion in defense articles to Singapore
agreement signed in 1975 that allows Singapore troops to
via Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). In January 2020, the
train in Taiwan. A June 2021 Pew Research Center report
State Department approved Singapore’s request to procure
underscored that Singaporean views of China and its
four F-35 jets, with the option to purchase eight more. Over
leadership are broadly positive, despite a global trend of
1,000 Singapore military personnel are assigned to U.S.
more skeptical views of Beijing.
military bases, where they participate in training, exercises,
and professional military education. Singapore has operated
Some observers believe Singapore could play an important
advanced fighter jet and helicopter detachments in the
role in diplomacy surrounding the political crisis in Burma
continental United States for over 25 years.
(Myanmar), where the military seized power in a February
Law Enforcement Cooperation
1, 2021, coup d’etat. Singapore is one of Burma’s largest
trading partners and sources of direct investment, and
The United States and Singapore engage in ongoing law
reportedly has been an important banking and health-care
enforcement cooperation. Singapore is a transit point for
millions of air passengers annually. Singapore’s busy port
center for senior Burmese military officials.
also is a trans-shipment point. The State Department’s 2022
Country Reports on Terrorism said, “Singapore remained a
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
committed, active, and effective CT (counterterrorism)
IF10228
partner.” Among U.S. priorities are improving Singapore’s
https://crsreports.congress.gov

U.S.-Singapore Relations


Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10228 · VERSION 17 · UPDATED