JAKARTA – Singapore and Indonesia have pledged to keep the Strait of Malacca open, safe and accessible to all, elevating maritime security to the forefront of a bilateral relationship that both countries increasingly see as critical to regional stability and economic growth.
The commitment emerged after talks on July 6 between Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Prabowo Subianto at the annual Leaders’ Retreat, where they stressed the importance of safeguarding one of the world’s busiest shipping routes amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Reaffirming the two countries’ “special” and “unique” relationship, the leaders held discussions that highlighted how the relationship is evolving beyond trade and investment into new areas such as renewable energy, cross-border electricity trade, digital infrastructure and supply chain resilience.
“The Leaders’ Retreat is a unique feature of the Singapore-Indonesia relationship. It reflects the special relationship between our two countries, one that is characterised by close ties, as well as mutual trust, respect and understanding,” said PM Wong at a joint press conference with President Prabowo.
In the same vein, President Prabowo underscored how both countries share a responsibility to safeguard regional security and economic growth. “Prosperity will never come without peace and stability,” he said.
The Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, carries a significant share of global trade and energy shipments, making it one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
President Prabowo said Indonesia and Singapore had reaffirmed their shared position on the waterway.
“Indonesia and Singapore are countries that directly border one another in the Strait of Malacca. We have a shared interest in maintaining the Strait of Malacca as a passage that is free for all parties,” he said.
“We must preserve security and peace in the strait, and also, of course, protect it from pollution, accidents, and from robbery or piracy.”
He added that Indonesia would continue coordinating with Malaysia and Thailand to ensure that, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the strait would “always remain open to all, safe and accessible to anyone who requires access”.
PM Wong struck a similar note, linking maritime security to wider global developments.
He said recent events in the Middle East had highlighted the importance of keeping major trade routes functioning and secure. The Iran war had choked off traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to disruptions in global trade and the supply of oil.
“As littoral states bordering the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, both Singapore and Indonesia are strategically aligned,” he said.
“We both share interest in upholding navigational rights and freedoms, and keeping sea lines of communication open to all, including the unimpeded rights of transit passage of vessels, in accordance with UNCLOS which is also customary international law.”
The two leaders agreed to work with other littoral states to ensure that the Strait of Malacca and Singapore remain safe, open and accessible.
President Prabowo said Singapore and Indonesia shared common interests as neighbours in the same region, adding that peace and stability required constant effort and cooperation.
“Stability and peace are not something that will come by themselves,” he said. “We must carry it out without rest.”
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments. President Prabowo said they had reaffirmed ASEAN’s longstanding position that disputes should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy, a principle he said should apply “not only in our region, but in all regions”.
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