NDR 2026: Trust remains one of Singapore’s greatest strengths amid a fast-changing world, says PM Wong
In a world where trust is becoming harder to find, Singapore is a place where commitments are honoured.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking during the National Day Rally on Aug 23, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)
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SINGAPORE: In a world where trust is in short supply, being trusted is one of Singapore’s greatest strengths, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Aug 23).
Amid growing pressures in international trade, competition among great powers and the emergence of new technologies, there is a higher risk of conflict escalation, noted Mr Wong in his National Day Rally speech.
“This is our world today – more contested, more unstable and more dangerous than before.
“These are not temporary disruptions. This is the new normal that Singapore will have to endure and survive for many years to come,” he said.
Given this reality, the country cannot respond by retreating or turning inward, said Mr Wong.
Singapore has succeeded by connecting to and creating value for the world, and it will continue to build deeper connections, stay relevant and create more opportunities for its citizens, he said.
Noting that the country is a major hub for business and finance, Mr Wong said Singapore plays a vital role in global supply chains, and brings markets, capital, talent and ideas together.
“All of these strengths depend on one thing: Trust,” he said. “Countries trust us, businesses trust us, investors trust us.”
They know Singapore is a place where the rule of law prevails, institutions are strong and contracts and commitments are honoured, said Mr Wong, who is also the finance minister.
“When Singapore gives our word, we keep it,” he said.
“In a world where trust is becoming harder to find, this remains one of our greatest strengths. We will build on this trust and deepen our links with the world,” he added.
To this end, Singapore will do everything it can to strengthen unity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when the country becomes the grouping’s chair next year.
“We will also strengthen partnerships beyond our region – bring diverse partners together, build common ground, and keep channels for dialogue and cooperation open,” Mr Wong said.
However, Singapore cannot assume that others will come to our rescue when trouble arises.
“We must be able to stand on our own, and take care of our own,” he said, noting that Singapore moved quickly to bring its citizens home, secure essential supplies and roll out support packages for workers, households and businesses when the Middle East crisis happened.
The immediate priority has been to steady the ship and help Singaporeans through the turbulence, he said.
“But we must go beyond that and prepare for the deeper changes to come,” he said.
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MORE UNSTABLE, DANGEROUS WORLD
At the start of his rally speech, Mr Wong noted that tensions have grown deeper in recent years, with the balance of power shifting, and different countries jostling for influence.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a disruption in supplies in the global trading system, and the Russia-Ukraine war exposed the danger of depending too heavily on a single supplier.
The larger reality is that trade is no longer as free as it once was, and is increasingly shaped by security considerations, said Mr Wong.
The major conflicts in Europe and the Middle East may seem separate and far away from Singapore, but conflicts do not always stay neatly contained, he said.
Other countries can get drawn in because of their alliances and interests, and new technologies add to the risks because cheap drones can inflict serious damage against more powerful forces.
“Put all this together, and the risks of miscalculation and escalation are much higher. A regional conflict can quickly become something bigger,” he said.
He then said countries are also putting pressure on others through economic coercion, foreign interference, disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
“People call these grey-zone tactics. You may not see troops crossing borders, but the damage can be just as real.”
SINGAPORE TAKES US’ ALLEGATIONS SERIOUSLY
Pointing to the US tariffs, Mr Wong said governments are increasingly using trade, technology and investment to advance their strategic and security objectives.
After the Liberation Day tariffs were ruled as unlawful, the US administration re-imposed the tariffs over the alleged use of forced labour.
The US had investigated 60 trading partners over their alleged failure to enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour, and found that 54 economies failed to impose and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition.
Last month, the US announced that it would impose a 12.5 per cent tariff on a range of Singapore goods, citing a failure to ban imports produced with forced labour.
Mr Wong said forced labour is a global problem, and the better way to tackle it is through international cooperation and common standards, but the US expects countries to have domestic measures to halt imported goods made with forced labour.
The US also recently raised concerns about Chinese goods being routed through other countries to circumvent tariffs.
“Singapore takes both issues seriously. We have clear rules and laws in place. We enforce them and we expect companies operating here to comply,” he said, adding that Singapore will investigate and take action if there is evidence of wrongdoing.
“But we must also be realistic about what Singapore can do on our own,” said Mr Wong.
With Singapore serving as a major centre for re-exports and transshipment, goods pass through the country from all over the world, making it impossible to trace and verify the entire supply chain behind every product.
“We will continue engaging the US and explaining our position,” he said.
Source: CNA/an(nj)
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