Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan pointed out that "Pandora's box has already been opened." Even if tensions in the Strait of Hormuz ease, the world will not return to its previous state; market prices may experience fluctuations, but one must never mistake this for a complete return to normalcy.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, on the 21st, Balakrishnan delivered a nearly 50-minute speech at the opening ceremony of the 17th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO), focusing on the current global security situation.
He noted that rising domestic discontent within countries is sparking a backlash against globalization. Relationships that were once mutually dependent are now gradually being weaponized, and technological changes are further amplifying these trends.
He said that countries must avoid falling into this vicious cycle, while also broadly understanding the interconnections between politics, economics, technology, and defense, thereby expanding the connotation of national security.
Regarding the current situation in Iran, Balakrishnan pointed out that war is no longer just an abstract concept, but a reality that people are experiencing. Disruptions to the supply chain have already concretely occurred. "We are now discussing key chokepoints, and I predict this is merely one of a series of conflicts to come."
As for how to cope with the increasingly complex security situation, Balakrishnan believes that externally, countries must actively seek out partners; internally, they must prevent the continued accumulation of discontent.
He said, "Countries must find a balance between self-sufficiency and mutual interdependence, especially by establishing dependent relationships with trustworthy and cooperative partners, thereby promoting cooperation and mutual trust, rather than making it easier to perceive each other as threats."
The Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers has been held since 2007, and this year's theme is "Resilient Societies in a Divided World: National Security Beyond Borders."
This five-day seminar is organized by the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, and gathers high-level national security policymakers from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.