Australian PM Albanese to visit Singapore May 20 in first overseas trip after winning election

Australia and Singapore have been in discussions to renew and deepen their wide-ranging Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, the 10th year of the CSP and 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both nations.

Clement Tan

Clement Tan

The Straits Times

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Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (2nd L) smiles upon his arrival at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta on May 14, 2025, on his first overseas visit after being re-elected. PHOTO: AFP

May 15, 2025

SINGAPORE – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to visit Singapore on May 20, in his first international trip after winning a second term in office in the recent elections Down Under.

Singapore will be the last leg of Mr Albanese’s week-long trip. He will first visit Indonesia from May 14 to 16 before proceeding to Vatican City to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on May 18.

While in Singapore, Mr Albanese is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who also won a fresh term on May 3 while standing in his first election as Singapore’s head of government.

“I look forward to meeting Prime Minister Wong. The close partnership between Australia and Singapore is underpinned by our shared interest in an open, stable and prosperous region,” Mr Albanese said in a statement dated May 14.

Australia and Singapore have been in discussions to renew and deepen their wide-ranging Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2025, the 10th year of the CSP and 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between both nations.

Mr Albanese led Australia’s ruling Labor Party to a historic victory at the May 3 federal elections, becoming the first Australian leader to win a successive three-year term since Mr John Howard in 2004.

Australian voters opted to shun centre-right leaders who had endorsed policies associated with US President Donald Trump, after he upended longstanding US commitments to the post-Cold War order and imposed trade tariffs on its closest allies.

  • Clement Tan is an assistant foreign editor at The Straits Times. He helps to oversee coverage of South Asia, the US, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.
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