Singapore and Indonesia have pledged to keep the Strait of Malacca open, safe and accessible to all, placing maritime security at the forefront of bilateral relations, which both countries view as vital to regional stability.The commitment came after talks between Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Prabowo Subianto at the annual Leaders’ Retreat in Jakarta on July 6, where they stressed the importance of securing one of the world’s busiest shipping routes amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.The Strait of Malacca, which connects the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, carries a significant share of global trade and energy shipments, making it one of the world’s most strategically important sea corridors. In 2025, the strait handled more than 102,500 ship transits, accounting for about 22 percent of global maritime trade, and moved about 23.2 million barrels of oil per day.
‘Strategically aligned’ on maritime security
President Prabowo said Indonesia and Singapore have reaffirmed their shared position on the waterway. “Indonesia and Singapore are countries that directly border each other across the Strait of Malacca. We have a common interest in maintaining the Strait of Malacca as a passage that is free for all parties,” he said at a joint press conference.He said Indonesia would continue to coordinate with Malaysia and Thailand to ensure that the strait “will always remain open to all, safe and accessible to all who require access”, in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.Prime Minister Wong made a similar comment, linking maritime security to global development. He said recent events in the Middle East have underlined the importance of keeping key trade routes running and secure. The Iran war blocked traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global trade and oil supplies.“As coastal states bordering the Strait of Malacca, Singapore and Indonesia are strategically connected,” Wong said. “We are interested in maintaining navigational rights and freedoms and in keeping sea lines of communication open to all”.The two leaders agreed to work with other coastal states to ensure that the strait remains safe, open and accessible.
Global spotlight on the Strait of Malacca
The commitment comes amid increased global attention on the Strait of Malacca following the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say that while the Strait of Hormuz serves primarily as an energy export route, the Strait of Malacca serves as a broader global trade artery.The Strait of Hormuz operates under a fundamentally different governance structure than the Strait of Hormuz. It is governed as an international strait with transit passage guaranteed by UNCLOS, ensuring that no country can block, restrict, or toll shipping traffic. This legal framework provides continuity and predictability for global supply chains.Concerns were raised earlier this year when an Indonesian official briefly talked about the possibility of charging ships for transiting the strait, but the government quickly withdrew his comments while reaffirming its support for freedom of navigation.The retreat produced a total of 26 agreements and memorandums of understanding in various fields, compared to 24 signed at last year’s meeting in Singapore. Both countries are preparing to complete 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.