Singapore FM: Hormuz Disruption Is Asia’s Problem, But Freedom of Navigation Is Non-Negotiable

SINGAPORE — Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that U.S. President Donald Trump is not entirely incorrect in asserting that disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz primarily concern Asian economies. However, the minister emphasized that the principle of open navigation remains a fundamental right that cannot be compromised.

Asian nations are among the largest consumers of energy transported via the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime link between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Consequently, any extended closure of this waterway would have severe repercussions for the region. Earlier this year, Trump argued that Asian economies, rather than relying heavily on U.S. military protection, should assume greater responsibility for securing the route.

“We don’t use the strait. We don’t need it. Europe needs it. Korea, Japan, China, [and] a lot of other people,” Trump said at the time.

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday at the Milken Institute’s Asia Summit in Singapore, Balakrishnan cautioned against simplifying the issue to a matter of oil buyers versus protectors. He described freedom of navigation as a “non-negotiable” principle for Singapore, grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “This, for us, is an existential question, and it’s a matter of principle, matter of international law,” he said.

Balakrishnan highlighted that Iran’s efforts to assert dominance over the strait extend beyond collecting tolls. He warned that allowing Tehran to charge fees would effectively grant it the power to decide which vessels may pass, creating a “veto right” over one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. According to Balakrishnan, this leverage could prove more strategically valuable to Iran than its potential nuclear capabilities.

The foreign minister predicted that neither the United States nor Gulf states would accept Iranian control over the waterway, suggesting that tensions are likely to escalate with “a lot of pushing and shoving” expected in the coming months. He added that he does not foresee a swift diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

These comments echo Balakrishnan’s warnings from April, where he suggested that a hypothetical U.S.-China confrontation in the Pacific would make the current Hormuz crisis appear minor by comparison, illustrating the fragility of global trade at key maritime chokepoints. Despite these geopolitical pressures, Singapore has maintained that it will not choose between Washington and Beijing, instead prioritizing its own long-term interests and refusing to support any attempts to close or toll the Strait of Malacca.