Singapore was granted permanent observer status at the Arctic Council in May 2013, bringing a close to one and a half years of lobbying after it submitted its application. In an article a few months earlier, The Economist magazine prefaced its mention of Singapore’s application to the council by saying: “Sometimes a small event gives you mental whiplash.” Singapore, it went on to note, sits at the equator, as far from either pole as it is possible to be. How can it be interested in Arctic affairs?
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s response to news of Singapore’s permanent observer status a few months later was instructive. He said: “Singapore is not situated in the Arctic, but developments there – whether the melting of the ice cap or opening of new sea routes – will have important implications for Singapore as a low-lying island and international seaport.” Indeed, global interest in the melting North has been growing as more countries realise the commercial, political and environmental implications of developments in the Arctic. The Arctic is a barometer for climate change but its rich resources make it, paradoxically, a region with great investment potential.
Ambassador Tony K Siddique, Singapore’s Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs, will give his take on why the Arctic matters to our island nation. He will also offer insights into the workings of the Arctic Council and how Singapore managed to get a seat at the table.
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- Report on IPS Corporate Associates Lunch with His Excellency Tony K Siddique: Singapore and the Arctic Council