Editing Foreign relations of Singapore (section)

==Foreign policy approaches==

Singapore's leaders are [[realism (international relations)|realists]]; they perceive a [[Hobbes]]ian world where might makes right.<ref name=desker>{{cite book | author = B. Desker and M. N. M. Osman | title = S Rajaratnam on Singapore: from ideas to reality | year = 2006 | publisher = World Scientific Publishing | location = Singapore | isbn = 978-981-270-457-3}}</ref> Even so, there are shades of [[Liberalism (international relations)|liberalism]] and [[Constructivism (international relations)|constructivist]] thought in its foreign policy as evinced by the belief that economic interdependence will lessen the chances of conflict and that Singapore cannot be fatalistic as a small country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transcript of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Keynote Address at Australian National University's Southeast Asia Regional Geopolitical Update, Monday, 1 May 2023 |url=https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2023/05/01-May-2023---Transcript-of-Minister-for-Foreign-Affairs |access-date=6 November 2023 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore}}</ref> The resultant [[siege mentality]] is due to Singapore's geographical weaknesses, mistrust of Malaysia and Indonesia due to historical baggage, and from how it stands out as a "little red dot in a sea of green", as then-President [[B. J. Habibie|Habibie]] of Indonesia put it.<ref>{{cite news | title = President unhappy with Singapore, says AWSJ |date=5 August 1998 | newspaper = [[The Straits Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sing |first=Chan Chun |date=2021-11-10 |title=Singapore amid great power rivalry |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/singapore-amid-great-power-rivalry |access-date=2023-11-06 |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

Singapore's first foreign minister was [[S. Rajaratnam]], and the country's foreign policy still bears his imprimatur. Rajaratnam originally framed Singapore's foreign policy, taking into account "the jungle of international politics", and was wary of foreign policy "on the basis of permanent enemies."<ref name=desker/> In 1966, S. Rajaratnam saw Singapore's challenge as ensuring its sustained survival, peace, and prosperity in a region suffering from mutual jealousies, internal violence, economic disintegration and great power conflicts.<ref name=desker/>

In accordance with this worldview, Singapore's foreign policy is aimed at maintaining friendly relations with all countries, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and ASEAN, and ensuring that its actions do not exacerbate its neighbours' insecurities.<ref name=desker/> In 1972, Rajaratnam envisioned the world being Singapore's hinterland – integration into the world economy would ameliorate Singapore's inherent lack of natural resources. Thus, Rajaratnam believed that maintaining a [[Balance of power in international relations|balance of power]], rather than becoming a de facto vassal of some larger power, would provide Singapore with freedom to pursue an independent foreign policy. The cultivation of the great powers' interest in Singapore also would effectively function to deter the interference of regional powers.<ref name=desker/><ref>Michael Leifer, ''Singapore's foreign policy: Coping with vulnerability'' (Psychology Press, 2000).</ref>