Attending S. Rajaratnam Lecture 2025

I was nominated to attend the S. Rajaratnam Lecture 2025 entitled “A Safe Harbour in a Turbulent World”, hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the MFA Diplomatic Academy. The event featured Lawrence Wong’s inaugural foreign‐policy address, delivered on 16 April 2025.

In the lecture, Prime Minister Wong reflected on 60 years of Singapore’s independence and the global order that helped the city-state succeed. He noted how Singapore’s rules-based system is now fraying. Thus, Singapore must now adapt to a world that is more contested and multipolar. He also outlined three key thrusts for Singapore’s approach: (i) contributing to the stewardship of the global commons, (ii) deepening regional cohesion, and (iii) strengthening its global network of partnerships.

Being invited to this lecture was both an honour and a timely learning opportunity. It allowed me to hear directly how our nation’s foreign-policy thinking is evolving in response to global turbulence. At the same time, it allowed me to reflect on what role youth and future leaders might play in helping Singapore chart its own course rather than simply being passive.