His comments came after US President Donald Trump renewed calls in January for US control over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore, as a small state, places particular importance on international law because it offers protection against a global order based on raw power.

“We will continue to uphold international law and multilateralism, as these principles ultimately protect small states and contribute to global peace and stability,” he said.

The foreign minister stressed that Singapore values its longstanding and substantive partnership with the United States, which he described as a key contributor to security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the same time, he noted that Singapore also enjoys close and friendly relations with European countries, including Denmark. Singapore’s approach, he said, is to remain principled and consistent, regardless of which country is involved.

“This is because a world order based on ‘might is right’ is more unstable and dangerous, especially for small states,” Dr Balakrishnan said.

Venezuela and military intervention

Dr Balakrishnan also addressed questions about US actions in Venezuela, including a January incident involving the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

He said Singapore had expressed “grave concern” over US military intervention in Venezuela, describing it as contrary to international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

Singapore has consistently opposed foreign military intervention by any country, he added, citing its past opposition to Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the US invasion of Grenada in 1983.

A consistent foreign policy

Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore’s foreign policy is guided by long-term national interests and a consistent respect for international norms, rather than by the actions or influence of any single power.

While he noted that the US has recently withdrawn from dozens of international organisations, he said the immediate impact on Singapore is limited.

Meanwhile, 64.8% believe that Starmer’s trip, the first by a British prime minister to China in eight years, is widely seen as a move to provide greater certainty in Britain’s foreign relations.

According to the poll, 85.8 percent of participants believe China’s market presents significant opportunities for British businesses. Bilateral trade in goods between China and the UK reached $103.7 billion in 2025. 

Respondents also emphasized the importance of a stable bilateral relationship, with 83% saying cooperation should be guided by mutual respect, equality and shared benefit.

On resolving differences, 68.2% of respondents said disputes could be addressed through rational dialogue grounded in respect and practical cooperation. More than half of respondents, 56.9 percent, said China and the UK should uphold the post-war international order and the multilateral trading system.

Meanwhile, 67.4 percent expected both countries to demonstrate responsibility as major powers and collaborate within multilateral frameworks to tackle global governance challenges.

What went down in Beijing

Starmer’s visit follows a string of high-level foreign trips to China, including by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European leaders, and India’s Narendra Modi, amid growing tensions with the United States under the second Trump administration.

On the trade front, Starmer secured 30-day visa-free access for Britons traveling to China and lower tariffs on whisky. British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca also announced a $15 billion investment in the country.

However, no significant progress was reported on sensitive issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, or China-Russia ties. Some critics in Britain and the U.S. voiced concerns over human rights and espionage, which Beijing denies.

Despite these limitations, the CGTN poll indicates strong public confidence in the benefits of Starmer’s visit, particularly in promoting stability, dialogue, and economic opportunities in China-UK relations. It drew on responses from 9,086 overseas netizens within 24 hours.

Opening his remarks with reference to the June conflict between Iran and Israel, Khamenei acknowledged Iranian losses but framed them as part of the reality of war. “Yes, we have suffered losses, dear lives have been lost — there is no doubt about that. This is the nature of war… But the Islamic Republic has shown that the centre of will and power can make decisions and stand powerfully,” he stated.

Khamenei went on to accuse the United States of fuelling instability across the globe. “For the sake of oil and underground resources, they are willing to ignite wars anywhere in the world. Today, this warmongering has reached Latin America ,” he said, adding that Iran has no interest in aligning with governments backed by U.S. influence.

He further argued that U.S. policies were pushing Washington into deeper international isolation. “Even if the presidents of some countries flatter it, among nations, America becomes more hated day by day. Wherever it has intervened, it has led to warmongering, genocide, destruction or displacement,” he said.

Khamenei’s comments come months after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel.