Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has acknowledged that U. S. President Donald Trump is not entirely incorrect in his assertion that Asian economies should take on more responsibility for ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic waterway is crucial for energy shipments, particularly to Asia, and any disruption could have significant consequences for the region.
Speaking at the Milken Institute's Asia Summit in Singapore, Balakrishnan emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation through international waterways, a principle he described as “non-negotiable” for Singapore. He referenced the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which upholds the rights of transit passage and freedom of navigation, as foundational to this stance.
Trump has previously argued that countries like Korea, Japan, and China, which heavily rely on the Strait of Hormuz for their energy needs, should not depend predominantly on U. S. protection. “We don't use the strait. We don't need it. Europe needs it. Korea, Japan, China, [and] a lot of other people, ” Trump stated earlier this year.
Balakrishnan also highlighted the broader implications of Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Tehran's attempts to exert control over the waterway extend beyond potential revenue from tolls and fees. Iran's ability to charge vessels could effectively grant it a “veto right” over which ships are allowed passage, a power that could offer Tehran more leverage than even a nuclear weapon might.
He expressed doubt that the U. S. or Gulf states would tolerate such a scenario, suggesting that tensions in the region are likely to continue. “I think there will be a lot of pushing and shoving the next few months, ” he remarked, adding that a quick diplomatic resolution to the conflict seems unlikely.
Earlier this year, Balakrishnan warned that a potential conflict between the U. S. and China in the Pacific could have even more severe implications for global trade than disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed Singapore's commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Malacca and reiterated that the city-state would not participate in efforts to close, interdict, or impose tolls on this critical maritime route.
