Singapore not campaigning to be part of Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’: Vivian Balakrishnan
The foreign affairs minister said that an “understated, more discreet, behind-the-scenes, helpful, respectful approach” is more appropriate for Singapore in helping post-war Gaza.
Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York City on Sep 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
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SINGAPORE: Singapore is not campaigning for a seat on a “Board of Peace” that would oversee Gaza in its post-war transition, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Wednesday (Oct 15).
The board, proposed under a 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza, will be headed and chaired by United States President Donald Trump, with other members and heads of state.
It would supervise funding of Gaza’s reconstruction, a role that could give it a key role in governing Gaza since that is a major task facing the territory, which has been significantly destroyed over the past two years.
"We are not campaigning to be on the Board of Peace," Dr Balakrishnan said.
“Let me take a step back and remind everybody this: We are Singaporeans. Our approach is always to do more, say less, be quietly helpful and constructive, work from the ground up. So that's why we're not asking to sit on any boards, but we will step up our longstanding cooperation with the Palestinian Authority,” he said.
Singapore welcomes the agreement reached on Oct 9 by Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the Trump peace plan, said Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. He also commended the “incredible achievement” of President Trump and his negotiating team, as well as the invaluable part played by Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye. He pointed out that America remains the indispensable superpower with real leverage and is willing to apply that leverage on the warring parties to arrive at where they are. Replying to MPs’ question in parliament on Wednesday (Oct 15), Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore will stand ready to respond to the Palestinian Authority's assessment of its own needs and will do its best help the people in need.
He was responding to a question in parliament from Mr Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied GRC) on Singapore’s potential role in the administration of Gaza.
Dr Balakrishnan added beyond the Singapore Cooperation Programme, which was created in 1992 to help developing countries and regions grow, the country has also been engaging the Palestinian Authority with meetings at the senior levels.
For instance, the Palestinian prime minister has been here, while Singapore’s prime minister has been there, said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that he has been there himself several times too.
“We will customise specific programmes that are relevant for them, but they will take the lead on which programmes they are interested in and how Singapore can best address their needs,” he said.
He added that such an “understated, more discreet, behind-the-scenes, helpful, respectful approach” is more appropriate for Singapore.
MOVING FORWARD
In response to a question from Mr Ang Wei Neng (PAP-West Coast–Jurong West GRC) on what Singapore can do in Gaza moving forward, Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore has been contributing to Gaza on the medical front in the last two years.
“We look forward to doing more with our partners, but it depends very much on access, on security and on the needs,” he said.
From a medical perspective, at this stage, medical workers will not be dealing with the immediate, acute trauma, but “difficult sequelae like amputations, the need for prosthesis, the need for rehabilitation, the need to deal with psychological and emotional trauma”, said Dr Balakrishnan.
Hence, it is a different set of specialties that are necessary, he noted, adding that Singapore will do its part.
He said that the exact locations of deployment will be dictated by exigencies on the ground, such as identifying facilities where medical staff can contribute, while also staying safe.
On schools, he said Singapore "should be cognisant that there are very few Arab fluent speakers in Singapore" but could work with "train-the-trainer programmes".
Dr Balakrishnan noted that in the long run, there will be a need in Gaza for education and vocational training, so that the locals can acquire skills necessary for the economy in the long term.
He added that it is “premature” to talk about sending peacekeeping troops, and he would wait first, hopefully, for a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution on the matter.
In response to a question from Mr Yip Hon Weng (PAP-Yio Chu Kang), Dr Balakrishnan said that Singapore’s aid efforts take reference from the work of international aid agencies such as the UN Relief and Works Agency and the World Food Programme.
“I would also take reference from the, hopefully, soon to be established transitional authority, and it is for people on the ground to decide what is needed and to coordinate, and then we fit in,” he said. “It is not for us to impose our idea of how aid should be delivered.”
“I hope you understand my position of not trying to be pushy and not trying to aim for positions on boards and not trying to excessively draw attention, but just to quietly and effectively work in the background,” he added.
TRUMP FOR PEACE PRIZE?
Israel and Hamas had reached a long-sought deal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, US President Trump announced on Oct 8, under his plan for ending the two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave.
Earlier this week, Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages under the deal, a major step towards ending the war, with Mr Trump also addressing Israel's parliament.
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP-Chua Chu Kang GRC) on Wednesday asked the minister whether Singapore would nominate or support Mr Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if the peace plan does lead to peace and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
In response, Dr Balakrishnan said that the plan was a great achievement and an essential first step, but "not sufficient to achieving peace, security, development, hope and even ultimately, a two-state solution".
He said that even amid current positive developments, "we should be very realistic and psychologically be prepared this will be a long and arduous journey".
"For Singapore, we should maintain our consistent, principled approach. We should continue to have effective bridges and access to all the stakeholders," said Dr Balakrishnan.
"We should, wherever possible, within the limits of our capability, be constructive, reliable partners for peace, for development and long-term reconciliation between two peoples who have been through unimaginable horrors in the last two years."
