Germany and Singapore widen strategic cooperation with new work plan
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a work plan to deepen their strategic partnership. Security, trade, digital technology, research and green energy are among its priorities. Germany also announced plans to join Singapore’s initiative protecting undersea infrastructure. The leaders discussed closer regional trade connections, including stronger ties between the European Union and Southeast Asia.
Geopolitics··Morning
Merz and Wong set priorities for a deeper partnership
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a new bilateral work plan after talks in Singapore. The plan sets out cooperation in security and defence, trade and investment, digital technology, artificial intelligence, research and green energy. The leaders presented it as a way to advance their strategic partnership through concrete initiatives.[1], [2]
The relationship already includes a substantial German commercial presence: more than 2,900 German companies operate in Singapore. Wong recalled that the countries had marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties the previous year. The two governments placed the new security and technology priorities alongside their established trading relationship.[1]
Undersea infrastructure joins defence cooperation
Germany announced that it would join GUIDE, Singapore’s initiative to protect critical undersea infrastructure. The governments also covered cyber security cooperation. Existing defence ties include training in Kiel, Germany, for crews of Singapore’s Invincible-class submarines and cooperation involving Leopard tanks in the German region of Oberlausitz. Wong said Singapore had commissioned its first German-built Sentinel-class coastguard vessel earlier in the month.[1]
Germany also expressed readiness to contribute to the power grid of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a project connecting national electricity systems in Southeast Asia. The leaders discussed a closer exchange on artificial intelligence and cooperation between their artificial intelligence safety institutes. These commitments formed part of the wider bilateral work programme.[1]
Leaders seek closer links between trading regions
Wong said Singapore wanted to deepen relations between ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the European Union during its next regional chairmanship. Merz advocated closer links with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement including Australia, Canada, Japan and the UK. The leaders also discussed an EU-ASEAN free-trade agreement. Their meeting announced a bilateral work plan; it did not conclude a new regional trade treaty on the EU’s behalf.[1]
