Singapore and France are set to enhance their diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of their ties in 2025. This decision was made during a working dinner between Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on April 11, 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Singapore.

Wong’s visit to Paris is part of a six-day trip to Germany and France, marking his first official trip to Europe since assuming the role of Deputy Prime Minister in 2022. During his time in Berlin, he and German officials agreed to work towards upgrading their relations to a Strategic Partnership.

Currently, France holds a Strategic Partnership with Singapore, being the only European Union member state to do so. This partnership has evolved from an Enhanced Partnership to a Strategic Partnership since October 2012. The upgrade to a CSP will broaden existing cooperation and introduce new areas of collaboration, particularly in the digital economy. Australia is currently Singapore’s only CSP partner, with ongoing discussions for a similar relationship with Vietnam.

To coincide with this elevation, Wong and Macron launched the France-Singapore Joint Year of Sustainability (JYOS), a year-long initiative focusing on sustainable development and green transitions. This initiative will feature various events and collaborations from April 2024 to mid-2025, highlighting joint efforts in five priority areas:

Circular economy
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Sustainability in the Digital and Green Partnership
Blended finance and transition financing
Sustainability in the maritime sector
The JYOS aims to promote bilateral initiatives and investments in sustainable development and builds on existing agreements between the two nations. Wong and Macron expressed satisfaction with their “strong and substantive ties” and discussed further cooperation, including regional initiatives like the Asean Power Grid, which seeks to integrate power systems across Southeast Asia.

Before the dinner, Wong met with over 200 Singaporeans residing in France, emphasizing the robust bilateral relations and the depth of trust established between the two governments. Notably, Singapore is the only non-NATO country with a military presence in France, underscoring the strength of their partnership across various sectors, including defense, culture, and economic collaboration.