Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan reminded everyone that the country’s diplomacy did not start with luxury or comfort, while launching Not So Little Red Dot: 60 Years of Singapore’s Diplomacy, a book whose title is self explanatory.
The new book marks six decades of Singapore’s foreign policy journey, one that survived a difficult start to grow into something strong and respected.
During the event on November 19, the minister said that in the early days “the conduct of foreign policy was arranged from scratch on an ad-hoc basis”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or MFA, began with only a few rooms in City Hall and a small team. Most of them came from different professions and had to learn diplomacy by doing it. As he described it, the story of MFA is basically about delivering under pressure and improvising whenever needed.
Balakrishnan also recalled how Singapore’s first Foreign Minister, S Rajaratnam, wasted no time after independence in 1965. Rajaratnam travelled to 12 countries in just two months. Those were uncertain times and Singapore had to secure international recognition and build friendships quickly, he said.
“Our founding fathers understood that if we were to survive, let alone thrive, we would have to reach out to the world – to seek international recognition and yes, to make friends as widely as possible,” the minister said.
A large part of the speech honoured the pioneers. Dr Balakrishnan said they had dedication and ingenuity even if they lacked experience. He quoted former President S R Nathan, who once said the Ministry was “struggling to learn about diplomacy through practical exposure” but still “survived [its] mistakes and improvisations”.
The Minister also pointed out that the former president was being modest because these early officers actually laid the foundation for the country’s foreign policy.
From those cramped rooms in City Hall, MFA has grown into a much bigger institution with 53 overseas missions today. Balakrishnan said the officers continue to draw inspiration from the early trailblazers and still follow the values that were set back then.
He mentioned integrity, courage, resilience and teamwork as qualities that Singapore’s diplomats must hold close. Singapore’s top diplomat also talked about a “sacred sense of duty to our nation” which he believes is the not-so-secret sauce behind the success of the not-so-little Red Dot.
Speaking about his own journey in the MFA, he said, “Personally, I came to MFA in 2015 that was 10 years ago. It has been a deep privilege working closely, so closely with so many of you.” He shared how diplomacy often happens quietly, away from public attention.
“Diplomacy is hard work, and a lot of it, in fact most of it, is unglamorous and occurs behind the scenes in rooms with no windows. Often months and months and sometimes years and years in the making before anything emerges, before cameras start rolling and an event apparently unfolds seamlessly,” Balakrishnan said.
The minister gave the example of the 2018 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which Singapore hosted. While Singapore did not negotiate the main issues, even the simple task of hospitality required intense preparation, the minister recalled.
He reminded the audience of what then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joked that Singapore’s role was only to pour coffee and tea but even that needed “last minute improvisation and quick thinking”.
With stories of challenges, improvisation and national duty, “Not So Little Red Dot” is a seven-episode book which promises to offer a meaningful look at how a small country built a big diplomatic presence.
