Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, visited Singapore on 4-5 June 2017. During his visit he met with Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian Business Association Singapore, NBAS.
Meeting with Vivian Balakrishnan, Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs, the two foregign ministers discussed the existential challenges that both countries face as small states in a fast changing world.
“Small states are only relevant if we are successful and united. The world does not owe us a living. Nor does the world owe us a hearing. The words of small states only count if they are credible, constructive and consistent,” wrote Balakrishnan after meeting with Brende.
Balakrishnan further stresses the importance of small states to support international law and institutions like the United Nations, and welcomes Norway to work closely with Singapore and ASEAN.
“We have to be prepared to speak in support of this rules-based system and our vital interests. And precisely because we are small, we have all the more reason to uphold a rules-based international system,” said Balakrishnan.
