War in Ukraine: Singapore, the "Switzerland of Asia", in turn takes sanctions against Moscow

Aerial view of Singapore.

AFP - ROSLAN RAHMAN

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

After unprecedented sanctions taken in Switzerland against Russia, it is the turn of another rich small country renowned for its very cautious and neutral positions to act against Moscow.

Singapore, sometimes called the Switzerland of Asia, unveils economic sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine.

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It is a sentence that dates from 2019 and which seems more relevant than ever: "If Singapore disappeared tomorrow, the world would probably continue to function normally": it was its Prime Minister who had pronounced it before the forum of small States.

Yesterday Monday, still emphasizing the vulnerability of any small state in the face of the appetites of large countries, Singapore, the leading Asian trading center for raw materials and energies, announced that it would block certain Russian banks and financial transactions linked to Russia, and control all export of goods that can be used directly against Ukraine, reports our correspondent,

.

Singapore rarely decides on sanctions against other countries in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told parliament.

But given the "unprecedented severity" of the Russian attack, "Singapore wants to act in concert with so many other like-minded countries to impose appropriate sanctions and restrictions on Russia", he said.

The sovereignty, political independence & territorial integrity of all countries, big & small, must be respected.

We do not want a world order based on “might is right”.

We have to defend ourselves, uphold our principles, be united & stand up & be counted https://t.co/eTMnfCii4R pic.twitter.com/dyEsyW2w1v

— Vivian Balakrishnan (@VivianBala) February 28, 2022

A historic decision that clashes with Singapore's usual modus operandi.

After the

, for example, Singapore had come under pressure to financially sanction the junta, but was quick to assure that Burmese funds were insignificant in Singapore.

A statement then contradicted by the United States, which assured last October that the country had a "very, very important role to play" in weakening the junta, and invited Singapore to use this financial leverage.

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: The Burmese case continues to divide Asean

The national company Singapore Airlines also announced on Monday that it was suspending its links between Singapore and Moscow “for operational reasons”. 

(and with agencies) 

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