Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has issued an urgent warning about the dangerous transition facing the global community as the United States retreats from its traditional role as the world’s stabilizing force, leaving a power vacuum that no other nation can fill.
In an exclusive interview with Financial Times editor Roula Khalaf, Wong painted a sobering picture of the emerging post-American world order, describing the current moment as “messy and unpredictable” with profound implications for international stability and economic security.
America’s Retreat Leaves Dangerous Vacuum
“We are certainly in the midst of a great transition to a multipolar world, a post-American order and a multipolar world,” Wong stated bluntly. “No one can tell how the transition will unfold, but there is no doubt it will be messy and unpredictable because America is stepping back from its role as global insurer. But there is no other country that’s able to or willing to fill the vacuum.”
The prime minister’s assessment carries particular weight given Singapore’s position as a global financial hub and strategic crossroads. Often described as the “canary in the coal mine” for the global economy, Singapore’s leadership has a front-row view of shifting international dynamics.
Wong emphasized the precarious nature of the current moment, noting that the world finds itself trapped between two eras. “We are in an uncomfortable position where the old rules do not apply anymore but the new ones have not been written and we must brace ourselves for more turbulence ahead,” he warned.
Structural Shift, Not Temporary Phenomenon
When pressed about whether the current disruption represents a passing phase or fundamental transformation, Wong firmly placed himself in the latter camp. The changes sweeping through American politics reflect “broader change in political culture and also in American society itself,” he explained, describing “a feeling that America has not benefited from the current global order that it had put in place and it is not prepared to do as much of the heavy lifting to keep the order going.”
Critically, Wong believes these shifts transcend any single administration. “I think that goes beyond this administration,” he stated, suggesting that President Donald Trump’s America-first agenda reflects deeper currents in American political culture that will persist regardless of who occupies the White House.
Singapore’s Response to post-American World Order: Action Over Hope
Faced with this uncertain landscape, Wong insisted that nations cannot afford passivity. “I think we cannot afford to just wait for things to happen or hope somehow that things magically will fall in place. We have to take actions now,” he declared.
Singapore’s strategy involves proactive engagement with like-minded nations to build new frameworks for international cooperation. “Plan now and start taking actions to invest together in tackling the problems of the global commons or in building new trade connections and keeping up the momentum of trade liberalization,” Wong outlined.
The prime minister acknowledged Singapore cannot act alone but emphasized the necessity of moving forward even without American participation. “The US may not be able or willing to join these plans now, but we have to press ahead and hopefully in time to come they will come along as well,” he said.
“But given the uncertainties and the unpredictabilities, we cannot just leave things to chance. We have to start taking actions now to lay the foundations of the new multilateral architecture,” Wong added.
Acknowledging American Grievances
While deeply concerned about America’s withdrawal, Wong showed measured understanding of the underlying frustrations driving the shift. When asked whether President Trump has legitimate grievances about America being taken for granted, Wong conceded: “Some of it may well be justified in the sense that there may well have been free riders so to speak and countries do need to do more to invest in their own economic security and also stability.”
However, he quickly distinguished Singapore’s approach: “We do that in Singapore. We have never taken it for granted.”
The interview reveals a global leader grappling with profound uncertainty about the international system’s future architecture. Wong’s warnings underscore that the post-American world order is not a distant prospect but a present reality requiring immediate action and adaptation from nations worldwide.
