{
  "id": 18794658,
  "title": "Australia should deepen economic, security ties with Southeast Asia in a fragmented world: SM Lee",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/australia-should-deepen-economic-security-ties-with-southeast-asia-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-07T21:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Singapore",
    "slug": "cna-singapore",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lee-hsien-loong-australia-asia-deepen-ties-6531531"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Australia is urged to deepen its economic, security, and people-to-people ties with Southeast Asia in order to enhance its competitiveness and resilience in an increasingly fragmented world, according to Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Speaking during the 2026 ABC Boyer Lecture Series, Mr Lee emphasized that Australia, while not a Southeast Asian nation, should be a close partner of ASEAN, particularly in an era where small and medium-sized powers require greater collaboration. He highlighted the changing global landscape, with intensifying great power rivalry and the erosion of multilateralism, as well as China's growing strategic and economic influence. While countries are balancing self-reliance with reliance on friends and partners, Mr Lee stressed that Australia's regional partners have a significant role to play. He advocated for \"win-win\" projects in areas such as digital and green economies, public health, and counterterrorism. In defence and security, Lee called for Australia to maintain a presence in Asia and build partnerships with like-minded nations, recognizing the importance of security and trust issues. He also urged Australia to embrace the multilateral trading system and work towards reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO) while pursuing pragmatic solutions when consensus is not possible. Lee emphasized the importance of nurturing stronger people-to-people ties, citing Singapore's Colombo Plan and New Colombo Plan as examples of successful educational programs fostering goodwill between Australia and Asia.",
  "summary": "Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for greater Australian investment in Southeast Asia, saying deeper regional ties would strengthen its resilience and competitiveness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}