In 2013, Singapore was granted Permanent Observer Status on the Arctic Council. No mean feat for a small country without natural resources that is not even an Arctic state.
What is this Arctic Council?
It is a high level inter-governmental body established in 1996 to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, in particular on issues pertaining to sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.
With this status, Singapore has gained an important platform to participate in a body that shapes policies in the Arctic, important because whatever developments that take place in the Arctic north will have implications on Singapore, whether they be the melting of the ice cap on Singapore as a low-lying island or the opening up of new sea routes on Singapore as a seaport.
As a permanent observer Singapore has the right not only to attend meetings of the Arctic Council but also to propose and finance policies.
So how did Singapore, a country without any inherent strategic weight, do it?
Economic success at home and foreign policy abroad.
Singapore must first be a successful country at home in order to command the respect of other countries.
Economic success at home has given Singapore a voice in the international space. In that international space, Singapore has built a REPUTATION FOR DELIVERING ON GOOD FOREIGN POLICY INITIATIVES.
ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) is one such initiative.
A big idea from a small country, ASEM was conceived by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in 1995.
Mr Goh outlined his proposal to the French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur in a restricted meeting during an official visit to France. The French Prime Minister saw the strategic benefits of the proposal and agreed to bring the EU members on board. Mr Goh, on his part, would canvass for support from the Asean States.
Well, the rest is history.
Since ASEM, Singapore has also initiated the Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).
Such initiatives benefit not just Singapore but other countries as well.
In a speech at S Rajaratnam Lecture (17 Oct 2014) on "The Practice of Foreign Policy for Sustained Growth", ESM Goh Chok Tong had likened a country to a bird that needs two wings to fly, a domestic wing and an external wing, and the two are interdependent.
He said:
"Our ability to exercise influence disproportionate to our size comes from our reputation of being a successfully run country. If Singapore did not have good governance, policies and programmes, other countries would not have paid any attention to us. A mediocre Singapore would not command the respect of foreign leaders, and even the most brilliant diplomats would be powerless to wield much influence on Singapore’s behalf. To exercise influence in foreign policy, Singapore leaders must be supported by their record of good performance at home."
In his COS speech in parliament, Law and Foreign Minister K Shanmugam emphasized again that the survival and prosperity of Singapore depends on Singapore being relevant.
He made these points on RELEVANCE:
1. To ensure Singapore's continued survival and prosperity, Singapore must remain relevant.
2. Our relevance is not a given. It stems from our success. No one will pay us any attention if we are a failed state.
3. To remain relevant internationally, we must be exceptional.
Success must not be taken for granted. Success was built upon good governance delivered by men and women of talent and integrity. It must continue to be so.
Ref:
http://
http://en.reingex.com/
http://www.fealac.org/
http://bit.ly/1ybV3BS
Photograph: Alexandra Kobalenko/Getty
http://on.fb.me/1LdHvhS
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