Britain’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra, has underscored her country’s intent to deepen cooperation with Singapore in areas including technology, defence, and clean energy. Her comments came during her first official tour of Southeast Asia, in which she praised the six decades of diplomatic relations between the UK and Singapore and highlighted emerging priorities.
Major points from the interview
- Evolving partnership: Malhotra emphasized that the relationship between the UK and Singapore is transforming to address shared challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and digital governance.
- Trade & economic cooperation: She pointed out the success of the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (2022), which has helped build frameworks for cybersecurity, data protection, green finance, and digital innovation. Bilateral trade between the two nations is now about S$40 billion (US$31 billion).
- Innovation in transport tech: One example is the partnership between the UK’s Aurrigo and Changi Airport Group. They’re testing driverless baggage vehicles for Singapore’s upcoming Terminal 5, aligning with Singapore’s goals of high-tech, efficient aviation services.
- Defence ties: Malhotra reiterated the importance of long-standing frameworks like the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), involving the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. She said such relationships show how both countries are adapting to modern security threats.
- Focus on regional cooperation: She also made note of the UK’s growing engagement with ASEAN more broadly — especially regarding AI governance, sustainability, and security. Cooperation, she said, must reflect mutual values and build trust.
What it means for Singapore & the region
- Singapore could benefit from technology transfer, investment, and more advanced infrastructure projects, especially in clean energy and digital infrastructure.
- The increased collaboration may create new opportunities for Singaporean businesses and researchers, particularly in AI, robotics, and green tech.
- Defence and security cooperation could lead to more joint training exercises, shared R&D in emerging threats (cyber, autonomous systems), and enhanced regional stability through trusted partnerships.
- Broader ASEAN-UK cooperation may lead to shared norms in AI regulation, sustainability efforts, and economic frameworks that ease trade and investment.
