Context-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Singapore from September 4th to 5th, following his visit to Brunei. This tour emphasizes India's strategic interests in Southeast Asia, especially under the broader framework of India's ‘Act East’ policy and the evolving Indo-Pacific architecture. This visit comes shortly after Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to India in late July and the Malaysian Prime Minister Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim's visit in August, highlighting India’s growing engagement with Southeast Asia.

India has also recently bolstered its strategic ties with the Philippines, agreeing to sell BrahMos missiles to Manila amidst the Philippines' ongoing maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea. Modi's visit to Singapore is thus part of a broader Indian strategy to strengthen its presence and influence in the Indo-Pacific region, leveraging historical, cultural, ethnic, political, trade, and technological ties. 

Historical and Cultural Ties

Indian Community and Multicultural Integration

India's relationship with Singapore is deeply rooted in history and culture. The Indian community in Singapore, which has integrated well into the island nation's multicultural fabric, is a significant demographic component. Tamil is one of Singapore's four official languages, reflecting the deep-rooted connections between the two countries. Additionally, Indian languages like Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu are part of Singapore's school curriculum, underscoring the multicultural ethos of the city-state.

World War II and Indian Nationalism

Historically, Singapore played a crucial role in the aspirations of Indian nationalists during World War II when Japan occupied the island from 1942 to 1945. During this period, Indian nationalists collaborated with Japanese forces to challenge British dominance in the region. Singapore became a base for the Indian Independence League, established under Japanese auspices, which sought to end British colonial rule in India. Rash Behari Bose, an Indian nationalist based in Japan, was appointed the leader of the 12,000-strong political organization in Singapore during this period. This historical connection laid an early foundation for India's engagement with Singapore, which continues to influence bilateral relations today.

Evolution of India-Singapore Relations Post-Independence

Initial Engagement and Challenges

In the post-independence era, India maintained steady engagement with Southeast Asia. However, India's recognition of the Heng Samrin regime in Cambodia in July 1980 strained its relations with ASEAN countries, which were also uneasy about India's close ties with the Soviet Union. This period of estrangement underscored the geopolitical complexities of the Cold War, where India’s tilt towards the Soviet Union was viewed with suspicion by the ASEAN bloc, which leaned towards the Western camp.

The Shift to ‘Look East Policy’

It was only after the end of the Cold War in 1991, and the subsequent economic reforms in India, that relations with Southeast Asia, including Singapore, began to improve under the ‘Look East Policy’. The turning point in India-Singapore relations occurred during the Non-Aligned Summit in Jakarta in 1992 when Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao met Singapore’s Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. In his National Day Rally speech in August 1993, Goh Chok Tong expressed his intent to spark a “mild India fever,” reflecting Singapore’s growing interest in India.

Prime Minister Rao formally articulated India's “Look East Policy” during the Singapore Lecture in 1994, where he emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening ties with Southeast Asia in response to China's growing assertiveness. This policy shift was driven not only by economic imperatives but also by the need to counterbalance China’s rising influence in the region.

Strengthening Ties Under Successive Governments

Relations between the two countries were further enhanced when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Singapore in April 2002, followed by his invitation to the first ASEAN-India summit meeting in November 2002. These visits underscored the deepening ties and strategic alignment between India and Southeast Asia. Since then, successive Indian prime ministers have prioritized engagement with Southeast Asia, including Singapore, recognizing its strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region.

The rise of China and its assertiveness in the maritime domain, including the Indian Ocean Region, has added further impetus to India’s strategic outreach. Singapore, with its pivotal location and strong economic ties, remains a crucial partner for India in its efforts to maintain a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

Prime Minister Modi’s Engagement with Singapore

Admiration for Singapore’s Governance Model

Prime Minister Modi has been a strong proponent of closer ties with Singapore and has often praised its model of governance, particularly the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore. Modi paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew by visiting Singapore in March 2015 and again honored his memory on his 100th birth anniversary in April 2023. This admiration extends beyond diplomatic courtesies and reflects Modi’s appreciation for Singapore’s efficiency, discipline, and innovative governance.

Strategic Dialogue at the Shangri-La Dialogue

One of the most notable moments in Modi’s engagement with Singapore was his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018. This was the first time an Indian Prime Minister had addressed this prestigious forum of strategic thinkers, defense ministers, foreign ministers, and top defense officials. In his speech, Modi highlighted India’s ‘Act East’ policy and underscored Singapore’s pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific architecture.

He emphasized that the Indo-Pacific region would significantly influence global developments and noted the ongoing shifts in global politics and historical fault lines, alluding to the strategic rivalry between China and the democratic world led by the United States. Modi articulated that nations in the region could shape their future based on shared hopes and aspirations, rather than aligning with specific powers. He lauded Singapore’s principled stance in international affairs, highlighting that countries that uphold principles and do not merely align with major powers earn respect on the global stage.

He specifically mentioned the strategic importance of the region, noting that the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea connect India to the Pacific and to major strategic partners including ASEAN, Japan, Korea, China, and the Americas.

Governance and Values

Singapore’s Unique Democratic Identity

Singapore’s governance model is distinct in its strict discipline, adherence to rule of law, and emphasis on transparency, honesty, and good governance, setting it apart from other democracies that may be burdened by the compulsions of electoral politics. Singapore’s approach avoids the extremes of liberalism and indolence, fostering a conducive environment for excellence, wealth creation, and societal welfare.

Prime Minister Modi’s admiration for Singapore extends beyond strategic interests; he has often cited Singapore as a model of efficient and effective governance. This admiration reflects in India's approach to deepening bilateral ties, seeking to learn from Singapore’s successes in governance and socio-economic development.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Singapore and his broader engagement with Southeast Asia underscore the strategic significance India attaches to the region. India’s ‘Act East’ policy, a successor to the ‘Look East’ policy, has seen a renewed focus on enhancing ties with Southeast Asian nations amidst the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific. The historical, cultural, and strategic dimensions of India-Singapore relations provide a strong foundation for future cooperation as both nations navigate the complexities of the 21st-century global order.

India’s increasing engagement with Southeast Asia, exemplified by deepening ties with Singapore, reflects a broader strategic vision of promoting stability, prosperity, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, countering the assertiveness of other regional powers. As India continues to strengthen its partnerships in Southeast Asia, Singapore remains a key ally in this evolving geopolitical landscape.

Source- The Indian Express