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Singapore to Set Up an Embassy in Tel Aviv

More than half a century after establishing diplomatic relations with Israel in 1969, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, yesterday, that Singapore is looking forward to setting up an embassy in Tel Aviv. A statement from Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said that the new embassy will “serve as a focal point and support Singapore companies seeking to expand their collaboration with potential Israeli partners.”

Both countries share a special diplomatic relationship with each other. The two nations enjoy a high-profile security relationship, with Israeli and Singaporean arms industries such as Israel Aerospace Industries and ST Engineering engaging in joint development. Also, as a result of their covert military partnership, a large level of military trade is in exchange since the two countries had set up diplomatic ties. Israel has played a significant role in helping to build the emerging Singapore defence force. Over the years, Israel has continued to advise Singapore on a wide range of military topics, from night operations to aviation psychology.

While Israel has had an embassy at different locations in Singapore for almost more than five decades, Singapore’s decision for the establishment of the Embassy came after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to Israel in 2016, which, according to a former Israeli ambassador to Singapore, was “a significant step in ‘outing’ the 50-year partnership between the two nations.” At present, Lim Chuan Poh is Singapore’s non-resident ambassador-designate to Israel.

The announcement to open the embassy was made at the onset of the official three-day visit by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan to Israel. It is the most high-profile visit by a Singapore leader since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s official five-day visit to Israel in 2016. Yair Lapid, welcoming the establishment of Singapore’s embassy in Tel Aviv tweeted, “This represents another testament to the good and unique relations between the countries.”