Singapore eyes deeper Asean integration, wider partnerships as 2027 chair

Singapore's foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, has stated that the country aims to deepen Asean integration and forge wider partnerships beyond traditional dialogue partners during its 2027 chairmanship. Speaking at a dialogue session during the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2026, Balakrishnan emphasized that progress in these areas would be crucial for the success of Singapore's leadership amid global uncertainties.

He suggested that if Asean's economy continues to grow and its strengths in energy and technology are combined effectively, the bloc would have succeeded.

The dialogue, moderated by Milken Institute CEO Richard Ditizio, took place as part of a three-day summit themed "Leading with Intelligence," which ran from October 7 to 9 and attracted around 1,500 participants from 50 countries. Balakrishnan proposed expanding Asean's partnerships with the EU, Africa, South America, Canada, and the Pacific Islands.

He highlighted that Asean's collective strength lies in its ability to drive growth through the artificial intelligence boom and semiconductor demand. Countries like Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia have demonstrated encouraging GDP growth in the first half of 2026.

Despite the chaos and breakdown in world order, including trade disruptions and supply chain issues, Singapore remains optimistic about its potential for growth in the next 20 years. Balakrishnan urged Asean to be judged on its own merits and not seen as a platform for superpower competition or proxy wars.