Politics · Singapore Bureau
World needs 'bridge builders' for transition to multi-polar order: Tharman
Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has called for nations to adopt a bridge-building approach as the global order shifts toward a more multipolar configuration. He also stressed the importance of reframing climate change narratives to emphasise immediate action rather than distant threats.
LSN Singapore ·

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has urged the international community to embrace a 'bridge-building' role as the world navigates the transition to a multipolar order, signalling the need for nations to facilitate cooperation amid geopolitical realignments.
In remarks addressing the evolving global landscape, the President emphasised that countries must work to connect disparate interests and foster dialogue between different power centres. His comments reflect growing recognition of how traditional hierarchical international structures are giving way to a more distributed system of global influence.
Beyond geopolitical concerns, President Tharman underscored the importance of recasting climate change discourse. He argued that current narratives often focus on long-term, abstract consequences, which may fail to mobilise immediate action. Instead, he advocated for reframing environmental challenges to highlight tangible, near-term impacts that demand urgent response today.
The President's remarks underscore Singapore's diplomatic positioning as a nation that seeks to maintain constructive relationships across major powers while addressing pressing global challenges that require coordinated action.