Singapore - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong held a telephone call on April 7, 2025, to engage in in-depth discussions regarding the impact of recent U.S. tariff announcements on the global economy. Both leaders concurred that a trade war would yield no winners and emphasized the importance of international cooperation for global economic stability.   

Prime Minister Starmer shared details of his recent calls with other key international leaders with Prime Minister Wong, reaffirming the significance of free and open trade. Both nations agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation through various platforms, including the 'UK-Singapore Strategic Partnership,' ASEAN, and the CPTPP.   

Notably, as the two countries mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, they expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in technology, security, and defense sectors. Discussions also took place regarding the deployment of the UK's Carrier Strike Group to Singapore, underscoring their joint efforts towards stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.   

This call served as a crucial opportunity for the UK and Singapore to bolster their cooperation based on shared values and to seek joint responses to global issues amidst increasing instability in the international economic order. Both countries pledged to continue their close collaboration across various fields, aiming to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the international community.

Background Information:

UK-Singapore Strategic Partnership: Established in 2021, this partnership aims to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in various fields, including trade, investment, the digital economy, and climate change.   

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): A key regional organization for security and economic cooperation in Southeast Asia. Singapore is a core member state of ASEAN.   

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP): A significant free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region, signed on March 8, 2018. The UK concluded its accession negotiations on March 31, 2023, and signed the agreement on July 16, 2023. The CPTPP aims to lower trade barriers and promote economic integration.   

Carrier Strike Group: A naval power projection unit centered around an aircraft carrier, possessing significant military capabilities. The UK regularly deploys its Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific region to enhance security cooperation.   

U.S. Tariff Announcements: Recent announcements by the United States imposing additional tariffs on certain countries, likely causing concerns about the global trade order, preceded this call.

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