Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, said that the post-1945 order has come to an end and that the United Nations and other international organizations have not evolved to keep up with the times.  Strategic contestation between superpowers has sharpened, respect for the UN Charter has eroded and violations of international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity has become commonplace.  Singapore hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and immediate civilian access to humanitarian aid, but it will only recognize the State of Palestine when it has an effective government that accepts Israel’s right to exist and renounces terrorism.

Voicing support for the UN80 process, he said that as a small State, Singapore cannot afford to be passive or pessimistic.  “We must double down on multilateralism founded on international law,” he said, citing among other success stories the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.  Singapore’s nomination of Rena Lee as a candidate for the International Court of Justice reflects its deep commitment to upholding international law, he said.

He went on to call for a more representative and inclusive United Nations that reflects current realities.  The Security Council clearly needs to be reformed and its relationship with the General Assembly strengthened.  The Organization also needs to be future-ready and harness the potential of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies as a force for good. “AI’s transformative force can aid conflict prevention, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, but it also requires guardrails so that it can be harnessed responsibly,” he said.