Singapore is pitching itself as a bridge between the European Union (EU) and Asean, as the two blocs continue their protracted discussions to seal a free trade agreement (FTA).
However, Myanmar’s political uncertainty is a major hurdle towards an EU-Asean FTA, and Singapore will have to play a key role to break the deadlock when it assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year, according to an analyst.
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz last week, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Singapore would seek to advance cooperation on the long-awaited FTA.