US ‘more willing’ to act unilaterally for its national interests, says SM Lee Hsien Loong

0 January 8, 2026 03:22

00:00 In his opening remarks at a special dialogue at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute’s Regional Outlook Forum for 2026, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong outlined a major change in that the US has been more willing to act unilaterally when it sees its national interests require it.

05:43: He cited the US’ actions, like its June 2025 strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, its strikes against the Islamic State group in Nigeria in December, and most recently, in Venezuela.

In the short term, these actions have sometimes had “spectacular and even positive results”, he said. In the Middle East, there has been a ceasefire in Gaza, imperfect though it may be, he said.

But there are longer term consequences for the rest of the global system, which is based on the UN Charter, international law, as well as countries understanding they have to co-exist peacefully and work with one another, he said.

“Going to war has grievous and very unpredictable consequences,” SM Lee warned.

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