"Why Singapore Is Alarmed by Iran's Crisis: 'No Tolls Allowed'"

"No tolls, no restrictions are acceptable. The Strait of Hormuz must return to its pre-war status."

Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore. Facebook of the Prime Minister's Office of Singapore

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On April 17 (local time), Singapore, the Southeast Asian city-state, participated in the Strait of Hormuz meeting led by the United Kingdom and France. Joining the meeting via video conference, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong strongly criticized Iran, stating that absolutely no tolls should be imposed on the Strait of Hormuz.

Why is Singapore, a city-state thousands of kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz, reacting so sensitively to the Middle East crisis? For Singapore, a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is tantamount to threatening the nation's lifeline. Singapore owes its current prosperity and sovereignty to international straits as well.

Singapore. Pixabay

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After the meeting, Singapore continuously reiterated its position through official social networking channels and other platforms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore asked, "Are rights that can be negotiated truly rights?" and asserted, "For us in Singapore, the answer is clear. We will not negotiate rights already protected by international law." The ministry emphasized that any upcoming negotiations between the United States and Iran must include lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Wong also warned during the meeting that a blockade of the strait could bring chaos to the global economy. He appealed, "If we leave the Strait of Hormuz as it is now, the world will become unstable," and added, "The world could be ruled by coercion and force, rather than order."

Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is, for all practical purposes, under blockade by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. Oil tankers passing through the strait must follow routes designated by the IRGC and pay a 'toll' to Iran. Iran is also actively using the strait as leverage in negotiations with the United States. On April 18, they even fired without warning at a tanker near the strait.

Singapore Port. Singapore PSA Homepage

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Such actions by Iran are highly likely to constitute a violation of international law. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), waterways used for international navigation guarantee 'freedom of navigation,' ensuring that all ships and aircraft are not impeded. However, although Iran signed UNCLOS in 1982, it has not ratified it as domestic law.

The freedom of navigation in international straits has been a driving force for intermediary trading nations like Singapore. Singapore is also located along the international straits of the Malacca Strait and the Singapore Strait, and has fostered its financial and commercial sectors while positioning itself as a trade hub for Asia. Today, the Singapore Strait serves as an 'energy corridor,' transporting oil and natural gas to East Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.

However, if a precedent is set where regional powers control international straits by force and this spreads to the international community, the Malacca Strait could also fall under the control of nearby maritime powers. In an instant, Singapore could face threats not only to its economic model but also to its sovereignty. This is why Singapore is watching the future status of the Strait of Hormuz so closely.

Prime Minister Wong emphasized, "As a key player in global trade and a center of the oil refining industry, Singapore will make its position clear," adding, "We will continue to support free and open trade."

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