Proceedings of The 2nd International Conference on Future of Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2020
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/2nd.fshconf.2020.09.171
Singapore’s Flexible Policy In Relations with The United States (1990-2012)
Vo Thi Kim Thao
ABSTRACT:
Singapore had always tried to pursue a consistent policy with the United States, affirming that the strong United State presence “was vital to the stability and prosper of Asia”, and at the same time, Singapore was very proactive in profoundly upgrading the strategic bilateral relations in all aspects. In a number of issues, however, Singapore implemented a highly independent and autonomous policy, asserting its own perspectives upon the American-style democracy, extremist Islam in the war against terrorism, and particularly refusing to become a “Major Non-NATO Ally” of the United States (U.S.)— favoring instead to be a “Major Security Partner”, further than a friend yet not an ally, in the Singapore-U.S. relations. In foreign decisions pertaining to the United States, Singapore’s neutral, non-aligned foreign policy with China as an impact factor was maintained with the ultimate objective of protecting the national interests and the survival of this small island nation.
Keywords: flexible, policy, relations, Singapore, the United States (U.S.).