Harsh realities in foreign relations: Shanmugam

SINGAPORE — Minister for Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam today (Mar 5) said he wished there could be a more positive narrative in foreign policy, but the harsh realities are such that rules are often ignored by many countries, including the major powers.

“Success is not pre-ordained for any country, let alone a small city state. We ignore that at our peril,” Mr Shanmugam said in Parliament, as he pointed out that the Republic is just 720 sq km, and at the mercy of international economic winds, competition, bilateral disputes, regional tensions and shifts in strategic balance.

The Republic also strongly objects to any unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country under any pretext or excuse, and there can be no qualifications in respecting international law, he added.

Speaking during the Committee of Supply debate for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr Shanmugam pointed out that the crisis in Ukraine — where Russians troops are in control of some parts of the country — not only impacts Singapore at several levels, but also offers several lessons.

Noting Russia’s agreement in 1994 with the United States and the United Kingdom – to not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine – Mr Shanmugam said that “when it comes to the crunch, treaties are only meaningful if you have the ability to enforce them”.

Size matters in international relations, he added, and a country which cannot protect itself puts its sovereignty and its people at risk.

Mr Shanmugam also pointed out that the United Nations’ Security Council “cannot always act decisively to protect smaller countries”.

And when squeezed between two big powers or blocs, a smaller country like Ukraine can became a pawn, he said.

“The country caught in between can be sacrificed if the two contending powers or blocs decide to reach a wider accommodation with each other, trading off their various interests. Smaller countries must always be aware of this.”

The crisis in Ukraine, which is the second largest country in Europe, made him consider Singapore’s situation, Mr Shanmugam said: “If we do not constantly run hard to make sure that everything works, that we out compete the world, that we can defend ourselves, how long will it take for our situation to unravel?”

The Government has a duty to be honest to the people, and to “tell it like it is; and not sugar coat the truth”. “It is best to be unvarnished about the truth,” Mr Shanmugam added, as he updated the House on Singapore’s foreign policy and the region in response to questions by Members of Parliament.