Working Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to the Hellenic Republic, 2 April 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan made a working visit to the Hellenic Republic (Greece) on 2 April 2026. In Athens, Minister Balakrishnan met Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis, who hosted him to lunch, and Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias.

In the meetings, Minister Balakrishnan and the Greek Ministers reaffirmed the warm and longstanding ties between Singapore and Greece, as both countries mark the 60th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. They discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as maritime, trade and investment, food and digitalisation. Both sides also expressed their commitment to fostering closer economic links between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, as well as between the EU and members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

As fellow maritime nations, Singapore and Greece underscored their shared commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and upholding international law. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, and emphasised the importance for like-minded partners like Singapore and Greece to continue collaborating amidst a rapidly evolving global order.

​Minister Balakrishnan and Minister Gerapetritis delivered remarks at a press conference following their meeting. The transcript of Minister Balakrishnan’s remarks is at Annex.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

2 APRIL 2026

ANNEX

TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN’S REMARKS AT THE JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC GEORGE GERAPETRITIS, 2 APRIL 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Thank you Minister Gerapetritis. Thank you for this opportunity to visit this wonderful city of Athens in Greece. It is not my first time in Greece, but it is my first time as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and also as we celebrate the auspicious occasion of 60 years of diplomatic ties.

We may be in different parts of the world – you in the Mediterranean; Singapore in the heart of Southeast Asia – but both of us as maritime nations, trade-focused nations, with a belief in the importance of international rule of law, the United Nations, the principles of the United Nations – on all this, we share an instinctive agreement.  For us to be able to meet, consult, exchange notes, is a very important opportunity for us.

We are very glad your Prime Minister visited us in November last year, and one of the key objectives I need to make sure of is that you will come to us this year. The reason for the need for more intensive consultation is both the state of the world, as well as the opportunities for the future.

Let me start by looking at trade. Singapore and the EU have a free trade agreement which entered into force in 2019. I am glad to report that Singapore's trade with Greece in goods has increased by nearly 20% whilst trade in services has grown by more than 15%. But as you said, there is still scope for a lot more and we do want to see a lot more of trade between Greece and Singapore.

I should also say that Greece is known to be a culinary powerhouse, and in Singapore, food is almost a religion. We look forward to seeing more Greek food products and have even approved the applications to export canned poultry, beef, pork, canned mutton, and egg products to Singapore. When you come to Singapore, I hope to be able to show you a Greek supermarket with fresh Greek products on our shelves.

You also mentioned the other productive discussions beyond traditional trade in goods and services, but on digital, green and maritime services. These are all areas which are ripe for us to collaborate even more deeply in with you, and we look forward to doing that.

We hope there will be more Greek companies that will use Singapore as a gateway to Southeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific. I should also remind everyone we now have the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement which has also entered into force. The EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement is Singapore's largest bilateral digital economy agreement to date, and I believe it is the EU's first standalone bilateral digital trade agreement with any country. The point is, anything which you do with Singapore is a pathfinder for doing more between our respective regions. We believe that the more closely we can work with you the better. We are also looking forward to 2027 when you assume Presidency of the EU and Singapore will be chair of ASEAN. This will give us another opportunity to deepen the relations between the EU and ASEAN.

We discussed earlier in our tete-a-tete, the possibility of the EU doing more with the members of the CPTPP, as well as the EU doing more with the members of ASEAN. In a time of global flux, in a time when globalisation, free trade, and the rule of law are under pressure, it is all the more important that with Greece and the EU – whom we view as natural partners, as fellow believers in upholding the UN, the UN Charter and international law – we need to double down on our cooperation. We need to stand together and uplift this cause.

I am also glad that on the people-to-people level, I have been informed that a Singapore-based airline, Scoot, will be doubling its passenger services between Singapore and Athens. It used to fly twice a week, now it will be four times a week. We hope to see more people, more businesses, more students, interacting with each other.

We have also had a very candid discussion about global developments. Again, the ultimate disposition of these problems is not going to be settled in Athens or Singapore. But we are affected by the wars, by the flouting of international law, by the erosion of norms, and again I want to echo your point that ultimately, everything still has to end back at the negotiating table. Both Greece and Singapore hope for an early cessation of hostilities and hope for the restoration of the freedom of navigation in straits used for international navigation. By that, I clearly am referring to both the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another strait closer to home in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, which fortunately is in a safe and stable part of the world. The point is that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation in these straits used for international navigation is a right. It is not something bestowed as a favour or by grace of the littoral state. Even in this time of tension and war, I think it is still worthwhile reaffirming that right for freedom of navigation and overflight. I know that Greece is in the hot seat as a member of the Security Council and you have got many decisions to be made this afternoon and beyond, but we are strong supporters of Greece because we know your fundamental beliefs and your approach. Rest assured of our continued support for you at the UN and on the international stage.

Again, thank you for this chance to meet you, to consult you, to work together and to look forward to our agenda in the coming years ahead.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

2 APRIL 2026