10 days across seven cities might sound like a bang-for-the-buck tour package determined to pack in all the sights. Except that it isn’t, and leisure is far from the mind of Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who led a group of MPs on a working visit to the Middle East (Mar 15 to 24) during this delicate time.
All in all, it has been a busy, if not intense week for Dr Balakrishnan and his team. And in his own words, a “tiring, exhausting, but necessary” trip. Here’s a look at Dr Balakrishnan’s diplomatic blitz through the Middle East as he flies the Singapore flag high.
First stop: Doha, Qatar
In his first stop, Dr Balakrishnan met with Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who he describes as a ‘good friend’. Joining the Sheikh for iftar, Dr Balakrishnan reaffirmed 40 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Of course, with Qatar acting as the major player brokering the ceasefire talks, there is no better place to kickstart an exchange of views about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The consensus between the two nations is unanimous. An immediate ceasefire is vital to allow urgently needed aid into Gaza, said Dr Balakrishnan.
Onwards to Amman, Jordan
In what could only be described as a whirlwind trip, Dr Balakrishnan and his entourage were off to Amman, Jordan, the next day. High up on the agenda was one of the main purposes behind the trip – facilitating humanitarian assistance to the civilians in Gaza.
“Our reason for sending repeated tranches of humanitarian assistance…it is what our people want. I see our role (the government) as channelling, funnelling, facilitating and expressing the care (and) compassion of Singaporeans,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
Of course, at the heart of diplomacy is relationship building. It was also a task that Dr Balakrishnan took on with gumption as he navigated Singapore on a mission to “consult and get a direct download from our Arab partners in the Middle East”.
During his meetings with Jordanian leaders, Dr Balakrishnan wasted no time thanking Jordan for their support in the RSAF’s humanitarian aid mission to Gaza.
Ending the Jordan leg of the trip on a high note, the Singapore delegation witnessed the handover of a $6.1 million donation from the RLAF to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). And in case we need more tales of big-hearted Singaporeans to warm the cockles of our hearts, a chat with Singaporean students revealed that many have been teaching English to refugees on a volunteer basis, added Dr Balakrishnan.
Solidarity in Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
As the humanitarian crisis rages on, the trip to Ramallah is a difficult, if not emotional one. What’s telling is that this was Dr Balakrishnan’s third visit. A sign that our support for the welfare and future of the Palestinian people has been an ongoing affair.
Perhaps unbeknown to many, Singapore has been helping Palestinians with their capacity-building efforts over the years. “We will continue our support through our Enhanced Technical Assistance Package. Over 700 Palestinian officials have participated so far, and we hope to welcome more,” said Dr Balakrishnan.
Frank and candid in the State of Israel
At this point, we are at the halfway point of the trip. And it was right here in Israel that Dr Balakrishnan found himself walking a tightrope as he met up with the who’s who of Israeli politics. After all, there is no pussyfooting around the fact that Singapore’s relationship with Israel goes way back to the time when we were a fledgling nation.
Then again, maybe this long-standing relationship was precisely what allowed Singapore to convey our views frankly and brutally. “Where we have a difference… is we believe that the Israeli military response has now gone too far,” said Dr Balakrishnan as he reflected on his conversations with the Israelis.
In the end, how diplomacy works remains a mystery to many of us. But what we do know is that Dr Balakrishnan has managed to articulate Singapore’s position clearly and unambiguously to the Israelis. And it is one where an immediate ceasefire at this stage of the conflict is no longer an option if we want to stand on the side of humanity.
Wrapping it up in Egypt and the Gulf States
Concluding the hectic tour of the Middle East, our Singapore delegation continued their journey to the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“I am very glad that they gave us full access at senior levels… (because) nothing beats direct, face-to-face interaction and listening to what are the concerns of our Arab partners in the Middle East,” said Dr Balakrishnan. And so, we pressed on with our diplomatic efforts, meeting up with various leaders to exchange views on regional developments and solidifying friendships with a dose of charm and pragmatism.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, land of a thousand and one nights, also marks the final stop for Dr Balakrishnan and his team. In a carefully planned tour, this was a strategic visit to strengthen a ‘strategic partnership’ announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last October.
Finally, while time might be in short supply, the Minister and his MPs did manage to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing and catching up with overseas Singaporeans.
A diplomatic success in 10 days
In the end, we must be under no illusion that Singapore has any clout to influence decision-making and stop the war. However, what we can do is take a principled stand, joining the chorus of voices calling for a ceasefire and providing help to the innocent civilians in Gaza caught up in this horrific conflict. Over the past week, Dr Balakrishnan and the Singapore delegation has accomplished that and more, which makes this sojourn into the Middle East a very successful outing.
“The world is messy, complex, difficult. We need to continue to engage all parties… do what we can and be rational, be credible, be constructive, and have mutually beneficial relations with everyone possible,” said Dr Balakrishnan. Because only then can a small country such as Singapore play a part in pushing for peace while protecting our precious and fragile nation from breaking apart.
Photo Source: MFA/ Jordanian Royal Palace/ Alex Yam/ Vivian Balakrishnan via Facebook
