Landmark Singapore-Indonesia deals took decades, leaders must keep trust-building going: Panel

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(From right) Singapore Ambassador to Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng, Ms Zelda Wulan Kartika, special staff member to Indonesia’s Foreign Minister for economic diplomacy, and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratomo at the launch of The Next Chapter: Envisioning The Future Of Indonesia-Singapore Relations in Jakarta.

ST PHOTO: WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA

Summary

• Indonesia-Singapore ties deepened via decades of trust-building and personal networks, resulting in key agreements in 2022 covering defence, extradition, and air space.
• Personal ties, exemplified by Lee Kuan Yew and President Suharto’s relationship, helped manage sensitive issues and improve bilateral relations despite asymmetries.
• Sustaining ties requires ongoing investment in trust, cultural understanding, and sincere communication between leaders, especially amid leadership transitions and global challenges.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – Recent

landmark Indonesia-Singapore agreements

Both sides must keep that hard-won momentum alive by continuing to invest in trust, personal networks and close engagement as a new generation of leaders takes over, they said at the Dec 17 launch of The Next Chapter: Envisioning The Future Of Indonesia-Singapore Relations in Jakarta.

In 2022, the two countries

signed key agreements