International
Singapore closes the Lee era with the investiture of Lawrence Wong as prime minister
Lawrence Wong was sworn in on Wednesday as Prime Minister of Singapore, which puts an end to Lee Hsien Loong’s two-decades in office and closes the era in power of this popular dynasty, which turned the island into one of the most prosperous countries on the planet.
Wong, until now vice prime minister, today became the fourth leader in the history of the small Southeast Asian nation in an investiture ceremony at the Istana Palace of Singapore, officiated by the country’s president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, which began around 7:00 p.m. local time (11.00 GMT).
“I swear to protect and defend the Constitution of Singapore,” Wong stressed during the ceremony, broadcast live.
The appointment of Wong, 51, is a before and after in the Asian city-state, since it is the first time that the country does not have any Lee on the political scene, dominated by the family since the mandate of Lee Kuan Yew (1959-1990), “father” of the homeland and the predecessor of the new prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
At 72 years old, the firstborn of the deceased Lee Kuan Yew left the position today, as he announced last month, after two decades in power and after having anticipated for years that he would delegate the position to someone younger.
Lee participated in the ceremony and today swore in a ministerial position in Wong’s cabinet, which maintains the heavyweights of the former leader, as he announced this week.
“I am deeply honored (…) I am looking for your trust and support. My team and I will do everything in our man,” Wong said first in English when he got on the stand already as prime minister, and then pronounce a few words in Chinese, Malay and Tamil, the official languages of Singapore.
“Today we are living a milestone. I am the first leader born after independence (1965),” Wong stressed, while praising the legacy of his predecessors and appealing to national unity.
Although Wong, a member like Lee of the formation that has ruled Singapore since its independence, the People’s Action Party (PAP), is expected to adopt a continuist policy with respect to Lee, the current situation suggests that he will have to undertake some changes.
The also Minister of Finance will have to face greater friction between China and the United States and a decline in liberalization, the basis of Singapore’s success, dependent on exports.
“We are facing a world of conflict and rivalries and protectionism (…) We must be friends with everyone while defending our interests,” Wong proclaimed in his speech.
Likewise, Wong, a former official who officially entered politics in 2011 as a deputy, will have to face greater discontent among the population in the face of the high cost of living and the increase in inequalities.
The new leader of Singapore, who went from being a fishing island to one of the countries with the highest GDP per capita following Lee Kuan Yew’s road map – a combination of economic apertourism and control of freedoms – will also have to manage demographic problems and immigration avoiding friction.
The local population (75% ethnically Chinese, 14% Malaysian and 9% Indian) demands more job opportunities in a country that has depended heavily on immigration (about 1.7 million of the total of 5.6 million inhabitants) and that currently has one of the lowest fertility rates on the planet (0.97 in 2023).
“We will fight for a fairer society,” Wong emphasized today, adding that we will have to take “new paths and (take) new solutions.”
Wong will also have to show that the PAP can win electorally without the Lees, when the country has to hold the next general elections before November 2025.
International
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that trust between the United States and its Western allies has been “lost,” warning that the damage could persist beyond the presidency of Donald Trump.
“The rupture is very deep, and the loss of trust in U.S. great power policy is significant—not only among its allies, but also, as I observe, globally,” Steinmeier said during a speech in Berlin marking the 75th anniversary of Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Referring to the future of transatlantic relations, he stated that “there is no return to the situation before January 20, 2025,” the date marking the start of Trump’s second term in the White House.
“Even a future U.S. administration will no longer be able to resume the role of a benevolent hegemon guaranteeing a liberal international order,” added Steinmeier, who previously served as Germany’s foreign minister.
He also criticized the war against Iran, describing it as “contrary to international law” and calling it “a political mistake with serious consequences.”
“This war is avoidable and unnecessary,” he said.
Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s remarks reflect a broader concern within Germany, aligning with the government’s cautious stance while going further in tone.
International
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States has held talks with Iran—a claim denied by Tehran—and has temporarily paused his threat to target the country’s electrical infrastructure.
In his first overseas trip since the United States and Israel launched their offensive on February 28, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to address key global issues, including the situation in the Middle East, according to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven will meet in Cernay-la-Ville, close to Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris.
During the meeting, Rubio will hold discussions with his counterparts on “the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to global peace and stability,” Pigott said.
France currently holds the presidency of the G7, whose members also include the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Although all G7 nations are close allies of the United States, none has offered explicit support for Washington’s military actions against Iran, a stance that has reportedly frustrated Trump.
Last Saturday, G7 foreign ministers called for an “immediate and unconditional end” to Iranian attacks against U.S. allies in the Middle East.
International
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
The Pentagon is planning to deploy nearly 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Persian Gulf, according to two senior officials cited Tuesday by Spanish newspaper El País.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah warned it would confront any attempt at occupation following Israel’s announcement that its military will take control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, located about 30 kilometers from the border.
In recent hours, the Israel Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on Beirut, while Iran and Hezbollah responded with attacks on Israel, leaving at least six people with minor injuries in Tel Aviv.
The escalation comes as global markets react to renewed instability. The price of oil rose again above $100 per barrel after a brief decline the previous day, following an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a five-day truce on attacks targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Despite the announcement, Iranian authorities reported that two projectiles struck a gas pipeline in Khorramshahr and administrative buildings at a gas facility in Isfahan early Tuesday.
German president says trust in U.S. leadership is ‘lost’ amid global tensions
Trump claims talks with Iran as G7 meets to address global tensions
Pentagon to deploy 3,000 troops to Persian Gulf as Middle East tensions escalate
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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