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

Wong’s trip to Paris forms part of a six-day visit to Germany and France, marking his inaugural official journey to Europe since becoming Deputy Prime Minister in 2022. In Berlin, he and German officials agreed to work towards upgrading their relations to a Strategic Partnership.

France currently maintains a Strategic Partnership with Singapore, being the only EU member state to do so. This partnership has evolved from an Enhanced Partnership to a Strategic Partnership since October 2012. The shift to a CSP aims to expand existing cooperation and introduce new collaborative areas, particularly in the digital economy. Australia stands as Singapore’s sole CSP partner, while discussions for a similar partnership with Vietnam are ongoing.

Coinciding with this elevation, Wong and Macron launched the France-Singapore Joint Year of Sustainability (JYOS), a year-long initiative dedicated to sustainable development and green transitions. This initiative will showcase various events and collaborative efforts from April 2024 to mid-2025, focusing on five priority sectors:

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 seeks to foster bilateral initiatives and investments in sustainable development, building on existing agreements between the two nations. Wong and Macron conveyed satisfaction with their “strong and substantive ties” and discussed avenues for further cooperation, including regional initiatives like the Asean Power Grid, which aims to integrate power systems across Southeast Asia.

Prior to the dinner, Wong engaged with over 200 Singaporeans living in France, underscoring the solid bilateral relations and deep trust established between the two governments. Notably, Singapore is the only non-NATO country with a military presence in France, highlighting the extensive partnership across various sectors, including defense, culture, and economic collaboration.