Foreign Secretary gives speech in Singapore

UK Foreign Secretary speaks at International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore to announce the Strategic Partnership for the Future

On the first day of a three-day visit to Asia, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt spoke at the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank in Singapore, where he said Britain has some of the best connections of any country and is ready to strengthen UK ties with Asia after the country departs the European Union.

In a keynote speech, he said:

“Most importantly, in a world where it is rarely possible for one country to achieve its ambitions alone, we have some of the best connections of any country – whether through the Commonwealth, our alliance with the United States and our friendship with our neighbours in Europe.”

“Later this year, we will open a new mission to ASEAN headquarters in Jakarta, as we seek to strengthen our relationship with ASEAN after we leave the EU.”

Today’s speech entitled ‘Britain’s Role in a Post-Brexit World’, follows the Foreign Secretary’s ‘An Invisible Chain’ speech at Policy Exchange in London last October. Speaking in Singapore, the Foreign Secretary emphasised that Britain’s connections across the world are stronger than any other nation of comparable size or wealth. He also highlighted the announcement earlier this year, of the biggest expansion of the UK’s diplomatic network for a generation and made the case that Britain can play the important role of the “invisible chain” joining likeminded countries in support of the international rules-based order.

Foreign Secretary Hunt said:

“Britain is already the biggest European investor in South East Asia, with ASEAN trade of nearly £37 billion, and over 4,000 British companies employing more than 50,000 people in Singapore alone.”

The visit, the first to Singapore by a UK Foreign Secretary since 2015, will also see the joint announcement with Foreign Minister Dr Balakrishnan of a new UK–Singapore ‘Strategic Partnership for the Future’. The partnership, agreed by the Prime Ministers of both countries in April 2018 at the Commonwealth Summit, will build on the historic links and strengthen collaboration in the digital economy, sustainable business and innovation, security and defence, and on education, culture and youth.

During the visit, British Council and National Arts Council will renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to greater collaboration between Singapore and the UK. Foreign Secretary Hunt highlighted the continuance of international collaboration:

“Those connections are why Britain’s post-Brexit role should be to act as an invisible chain linking together the democracies of the world, those countries which share our values and support our belief in free trade, the rule of law and open societies.”