Remarks by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the 2026 Foreign Service Scholarship Award Ceremony, 6 August 2026

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan: Good morning, everyone. Let me begin by offering our warmest congratulations to Kee Shand, Klemens, Justin, and Keevan, and of course their families. I would start by reminding you, this is an auspicious milestone, but you did not reach here alone. The love, the nurture, the mentorship, the guidance, your family members, your teachers, your friends, is what has brought you here. Never forget that.

Today marks the beginning of a new journey for the four of you. An MFA or a PSC scholarship is far more than a financial commitment. I presume by now you and your sureties have signed a document. Some of us will recollect that from many decades ago, and I'm here to tell you it's not just about that signature or the calculation.

Taking a scholarship is a personal commitment and a social contract to Singapore and to a cause larger than yourself. You are now, in effect, part of the MFA family, and our collective mission as Singapore diplomats is to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of Singapore, and all the more, bearing in mind that national day is in a few days' time. Without independence, without national day, there would be no need for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also have to advance the political and strategic interests of Singapore in a troubled world. We need to strengthen and expand our partnerships across the world. You may or may not realize that, but Singaporeans adventure very widely throughout the world, and sometimes will get into trouble. When they do, they expect an MFA officer to be on the other end of the line, the WhatsApp message, or a telephone call. The point is – you have a sacred, noble mission. It is far larger than yourself, and it carries an enormous weight of responsibility. You have to make a real difference, not just for yourself and your generation, but for generations to come. I'm here to tell you that given the current state of the world, the work of MFA has become even more critical. Basically, there's going to be a lot of work, and I can guarantee you even more so in the future.

We live in a volatile, dangerous world. The familiar rules-based international order, the concept of multilateralism, is now on the retreat. Geopolitical competition is intensifying. Strategic assets, choke points, interdependence, financial systems have all become weaponised, and we are therefore facing a far more fragmented, far more contested, and a much less peaceful world. On top of all this, we are also experiencing a technological revolution, which is at least as far as my assessment is concerned, as momentous as the start of the last industrial revolution, with profound impact on societies, governments, and businesses.

Diplomats today need to grapple not only with geopolitical and geo-economic issues, but you will all, regardless of your field of study, need to be well versed in wide areas, including technology, AI, cyber security, climate change, energy security. You may even notice that AI companies are also now hiring philosophers. The point is, you will need to have a broad mind, and yet still be able to prove to whoever meets you that you have a deep mind capable of specializing, understanding details when necessary, without getting lost in those details.

For a small country like Singapore, our survival, our independence depends on eternal vigilance, our ability to respond to whatever comes our way with agility, our ability to manage risk, because there's no such thing as a risk-free existence as a small state, and to maintain Singapore's role as a relevant, trusted and constructive partner. We have to work very hard at all these things, and none of these attributes can be taken for granted.

That is why we need exceptional diplomats to help Singapore navigate a complex and difficult world, and our only resource is people. The quality of your mind, the strength of your heart, the density of your social networks, and hopefully the wisdom that comes with age. Hence, over the decades, we have continued to invest in our people, and that's why we offer scholarships. For each of you, we are investing not just in your education, but also in your extracurricular development, and in your future as foreign service officers – that's why we have internships at our Ministry headquarters and our overseas missions. This is not to shorten your holiday time, but to expand your learning opportunities, for you to see firsthand what life is like at the diplomatic front line, and for you to learn from your seniors a few years ahead of you.

You will all be embarking on your university education overseas. Klemens is headed to China to study international relations. Kee Shand and Keevan are headed to the UK to read human, social, and political sciences and law, respectively. Justin is about to embark on your third year of studies in the UK, reading a very relevant topic: history. I hope you will all take this time in university, broaden your minds, widen your networks, explore new ideas, gain new experiences, build new friendships, look for people from different cultures and different backgrounds, because they will enrich your hearts and minds as well. At the same time, stay connected with Singapore, understand what is happening here, because Singapore ourselves, we are changing so rapidly. Remember that foreign policy begins at home, and Singapore's greatest strength is our unity and our cohesion amidst great diversity. This unity will be tested even more so in the future as international and domestic fault lines become deeper, and issues become intertwined in a more fractious and unstable world.

I congratulate all of you, and let me also give you some personal advice. A scholarship is a blessing and a burden. There will be expectations placed on you. I suspect most of you will probably place the greatest expectations on yourself, but I also want you to act with wisdom and humility. A scholarship may open doors, but the moment you walk past that open door, you better check your scholarship out, because after that, people are going to judge you by your performance and what you do. There is no point referring to past glories and past scholarships. So, approach this with humility and realism, understand that you have been blessed, and understand that the greater weight of expectations rests on you. Just as you have not reached this point in your journey alone, you are not going to make the rest of your professional and personal lives alone. Never forget where home base is, and your family, your friends, and the wonderful privilege to represent a country.

So, congratulations, and I wish you all the very best. And to the family members – this is a moment of great pride, so enjoy the moment. This is a moment to reflect on the past and hope for the future, and to celebrate collectively. Congratulations! I wish you all the very best.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

6 AUGUST 2026