Monaco and Singapore have officially established diplomatic relations, sealing a partnership that underscores the influence of small but committed states on the global stage.
The agreement was formalised in New York, at the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations, during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II was welcomed by Singapore’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, alongside Ambassador Rena Lee and Special Adviser Navjote Singh. The Prince was accompanied by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, and Julie Donati, Adviser to the Prince’s Cabinet.
Both nations highlighted their shared values of dialogue, cooperation, and multilateralism. Despite their modest size, Monaco and Singapore stressed that committed states can have a decisive role in shaping international governance when united by a common vision.
Discussions also centred on the recent ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, a landmark agreement reached after more than 20 years of negotiation and now supported by over 60 states. Both Monaco and Singapore played pivotal roles in achieving this outcome.
Singapore’s leadership on behalf of small states was also praised, particularly through initiatives such as the Forum of Small States (FOSS) and the Global Governance Group (3G), which amplify the voices of smaller nations within the UN system.
This new chapter in Monaco–Singapore relations signals closer cooperation in multilateral diplomacy and a joint commitment to advancing constructive solutions to global challenges.
Image courtesy of Michaël Alesi / Palais Princier
