Macron Wraps Up ASEAN Tour in Singapore by Calling for ‘Coalition of Independents’
On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Singapore, French President Emmanuel Macron undertook a state visit to the Garden State from 29 to 30 May 2025. Both sides agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Being the first #CSP with that Singapore strikes with a European country, it underscores the strength of the Singapore-France ties.
President Emmanuel Macron met the Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in order to exchange views on how to reinforce ties not only bilaterally, but also between EU and ASEAN, and even the #IndoPacific. In particular, both sides discussed leveraging of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (#CPTPP) an #FTA to boost commercial exchanges between ASEAN and EU, and as a platform for promoting cooperation among like-minded states.
At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (#SLD25), President Macron stressed the concept of #StrategicAutonomy. In his keynote, Macron called for a ‘positive new alliance’ between EU and #IndoPacific countries in light of the intensifying rivalry between USA and China. With US Defense Secretary Paul Hegseth in the audience, he cautioned that ‘abandoning Ukraine’ might send the wrong signal to Taiwan or the Philippines.
President Wong expressed his appreciation to France for hosting a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) squadron in Cazaux in southwestern France, where Singaporeans fighter pilots receive advanced training. On the other hand, Singapore facilitates the deployment of French forces in the #IndoPacific. Going forward, Singapore and France aim to reinforce their long-standing partnership in defense and security.
In total, President Macron and PM Wong witnessed the signing of 13 agreements, involving defense, nuclear energy, education, AI and transportation. In the future, Singapore and France will deepen cooperation in the fields of #decarbonization and #digitalization, and #AI in particular. Before the end of the visit, both sides held a joint press conference and issued a Joint Declaration which defines the contours of the new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.