'Bridge-builders' like Singapore, Sweden key amid risk of fragmented world order: President Tharman

The Straits TimesParty-aligned🔒Center1 hr. ago

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasized the need for 'bridge builder' nations to facilitate a stable, cooperative multi-polar global order amid the decline of U.S.-led unipolarity. He warned that the absence of such mediators could lead to increased global tensions, fragmentation, and conflict. Citing examples like Sweden and Singapore, he highlighted the importance of coalition-building and international collaboration to address shared challenges such as climate change and AI governance. Tharman also stressed the urgency of reframing climate narratives around immediate health impacts and called for stronger social compacts, including investment in public services and support for workers affected by technological shifts. He acknowledged the central role of both the U.S. and China in any future global order.

Bias read (Center): The article presents President Tharman's remarks in a balanced manner, focusing on his calls for international cooperation, multilateralism, and addressing global challenges. There is no overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or emphasis on particular ideological perspectives. The content is a

Channel NewsAsia (CNA)State / PublicCenter3 hr. ago

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Singapore emphasized the importance of 'bridge-builder' nations like Singapore and Sweden in navigating a potentially fragmented global order. He noted that the traditional U.S.-led unipolar world is declining, and the transition to a multipolar system remains uncertain, marked by rising rivalries, trade weaponization, and potential division into blocs. Bridge-builders, according to Tharman, can foster regional cooperation, align the Global North and South on shared issues like climate change and pandemic preparedness, and support economic ties between major powers such as the U.S. and China. He highlighted Singapore’s efforts to strengthen partnerships between trade agreements like CPTPP and the EU, as well as ASEAN and the EU, and pointed to Sweden’s historical role in international diplomacy, including the establishment of the first UN peacekeeping mission.

Bias read (Center): The article presents President Tharman's remarks objectively, quoting him directly without overtly favoring any particular political perspective. The framing focuses on geopolitical dynamics and multilateral cooperation, avoiding biased language or selective emphasis on specific ideologies. It does,