‘Look beyond four years’: Countries should take longer-term view of relations with the US, says SM Lee

SHANGHAI: Even as the implications and uncertainty of a Trump 2.0 presidency capture global attention, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has cautioned that countries should avoid focusing on the «immediate ups and downs» of events in the United States.

What’s important is to look beyond a single four-year term of the US government, as many issues typically extend way beyond a single term, Mr Lee told Singapore media on Friday (Nov 29) as he wrapped up his six-day official visit to China. 

“Whether you are an adversary, whether you are a rival, whether you are an ally, whether you are a friend, you just have to accept this is how the US system works, and do your best to make sensible assessments and take sensible measures,” he added.

“If you are able to look beyond four years as a horizon, you should try and do that. So that is what I think countries are all trying to do, and we will see how it turns out.”

Mr Lee’s trip to China saw him travelling to Suzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. He met with Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping, reaffirmed the importance of Sino-Singapore relations and took stock of key bilateral projects, while also meeting with Singaporeans working and studying in the country.

The visit came less than two weeks after Mr Lee made a working trip to the US. He delivered a lecture at Harvard University, celebrated the 40th anniversary of Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC’s operations in the US, and engaged with prominent American strategic thinkers and corporate leaders.

When asked about his key takeaways from both trips, Mr Lee acknowledged that both the US and China are closely monitoring the potential implications of the incoming Donald Trump administration.

«The business people (in