NZ, Singapore ‘aligned’ on pushing for peace
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s prime minister has warned small countries cannot solve the Middle East situation but efforts must be made to push for peace, after promising closer cooperation with New Zealand.
The two countries walked away from bilateral meetings yesterday between Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with an agreement to work more closely together — including on defence and green economy.
Mr Luxon was officially welcomed to Singapore’s presidential palace — the Istana — ahead of the meeting.
The pair had previously met twice, and were expected to discuss global tensions including the developing situation in the Middle East. Iran had launched an attack on Israel over the weekend after an Israeli air strike hit its embassy in Damascus, Syria, killing two Iranian generals and five military advisers.
In the first instance of the country taking a direct role in the conflict since Hamas carried out attacks on Israel in October, Iran vowed to retaliate and on Sunday launched hundreds of drones — which were shot down by Israel with no casualties and causing only minor damage.
Mr Lee said he did not think it signalled a world war, but it was also not a problem small nations could solve.
‘‘I don’t think we are close to a world war. I think it’s a troubled world, and in particular it’s a very, very troubled Middle East, and war in Gaza continues to have repercussions more widely.
‘‘What can we do as small countries? We can’t solve the problems in the Middle East. Nothing is going to solve the problems in the Middle East within the foreseeable future.’’
However, that was no reason for those small countries not to do what they could.
‘‘We have to explain our stance, our attitudes, what we consider right, what we consider wrong . . . to developing a global consensus on the direction to go.’’
Mr Luxon concurred.
‘‘I just echo those same comments . . . We’re both countries that respect international rule of law, we’re both countries that respect humanitarian law, and our positions are very much aligned.’’
The pair’s opening comments referred to their official joint statement, which included comments about their respective positions on several areas of global competition and some new trade initiatives.
It included a promise to further elevate the Enhanced Partnership between the two countries before the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, following the announcement of the Enhanced Partnership in 2019.
The most concrete agreements from yesterday were on electronic trade invoicing and certification, and an invitation for a Singapore Food Security mission to visit New Zealand this year as part of the Supply Chain Working Group launched in 2022.
They agreed to add ‘‘Supply Chains and Connectivity’’ to the partnership agreement between the two countries, promising to streamline flows of critical goods during times of crisis, and planning to work together on sustainable aviation, shipping and green customs issues.
The prime ministers directed officials to explore how they could cooperate further on climate change and transitioning to a greener economy, with the possibility of greenbusiness missions between the two countries.
On defence, a live firing training exercise for Singapore artillery called ‘‘Thunder Warrior’’, hosted in New Zealand, would also take place again next year.
They raised ‘‘grave concern’’ about the situation in Gaza and called on Israel to ‘‘urgently facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access‘‘, saying civilian protection was of paramount importance, and restated their commitment to ‘‘ a negotiated twostate solution’’.
The statement also highlighted both countries’ condemnation of Russia’s ‘‘illegal and unprovoked fullscale invasion of Ukraine’’ more than two years ago.
They raised concern about the South China Sea, and reaffirmed the need to respect states’ ability to conserve, sustainably develop and manage their maritime natural resources in accordance with international laws.
Myanmar’s coup three years ago did not escape mention either, with both prime ministers urging the military to stop the violence, release those arbitrarily detained, and provide ‘‘unhindered humanitarian access’’.