Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister, Republic of Singapore- After completing education, Lee Hsien Loong joined the Singaporean military as an officer and retired with the rank of brigadier general
- His political career began in 1984 when he joined the People’s Action Party which was in power at the time
- Subsequently, he became a member of parliament in 1984 and took charge as the minister of state for the ministry of trade and industry and the ministry of defence
- In 1986, Loong became a member of the central executive committee of the People's Action Party
- He became the minister for trade and industry as well as the second minister of defence in 1987
- In 1990, Loong was elected as the deputy prime minister when Goh Chok Tong became the Prime Minister
- He became the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 1998
- In 2001, he assumed office as the finance minister of the country
- Loong replaced Tong as the prime minister of Singapore in 2004 and continues to be in that position till date
Before you go ...
- Loong’s father Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of Singapore
Lee Hsien Loong News
- Quote of the day by Singapore’s former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: ''We cooperate with China because of shared interests, not because of shared blood.'' ― What does “shared interests not shared blood” reveal about modern diplomacy and global power balance?Quote of the day by Lee Hsien Loong: Singapore China shared interests not shared blood statement Lee Hsien Loong reflects a sharp global truth. Nations act on interest, not emotion. Singapore China shared interests not shared blood statement Lee Hsien Loong highlights how diplomacy today is driven by survival, trade, and balance in a tense world. It shows Singapore’s clear foreign policy logic. Countries cooperate when goals align, not when identity matches. This idea reshapes how people read modern geopolitics. It is simple but deeply strategic. It explains why Singapore engages China while staying globally balanced.
- India’s young economy could surpass China’s, says former Singapore PMSingapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes India's younger population and economic potential could lead it to eventually surpass China's growth. He also discussed China's role in the global system, noting its benefit from the WTO and its desire to uphold a rules-based order, albeit with a cautionary note on great power restraint.
- Singapore’s first family is locked in a bitter battle. Reason, a houseThe family of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, is embroiled in a dispute over the demolition of his home, as requested in his will. His youngest son, Lee Hsien Yang, supports demolition, while his older brother, Lee Hsien Loong, remains non-committal. Government intervention has further complicated the situation.
- PM Modi praises Singapore's '4G' leadership, hails nation as global inspirationPrime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in Singapore's new leadership under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, highlighting the nation's progress and strategic partnership with India. Modi emphasised collaboration in areas like digitalization, healthcare, and cybersecurity, while celebrating the strong cultural ties and mutual investments between the two countries.
- Watch: PM Modi gets into the rhythm, plays dhol upon arrival in SingaporePrime Minister Narendra Modi began his visit to Singapore by engaging with the Indian diaspora and participating in cultural activities. Accompanied by key officials, Modi aims to strengthen strategic partnerships in advanced manufacturing, digitalisation, and sustainable development. The visit includes meetings with Singapore's top leaders and a focus on the semiconductor sector.
- Time ripe for India-Singapore bilateral relations to raise to next level: EAM S JaishankarPrime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore aims to elevate India-Singapore relations. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for a contemporary approach to reflect current realities. Key discussions will focus on technology, connectivity, and energy, building on existing strong ties and exploring new collaborative opportunities.
- Jaishankar meets Singapore PM Lee & senior ministers to further deepen bilateral tiesExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has held meetings with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, discussing the advancing of India-Singapore ties, particularly in new age technologies. He also met Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan, reviewing bilateral cooperation progress and discussing the Indo-Pacific and West Asia.
- G20 Summit: UK PM Rishi Sunak signs new strategic pact with Singapore in IndiaThe pact is expected to give Singaporean companies more confidence to invest in the UK and vice-versa, creating jobs and growth for both economies."This new agreement with Singapore will take us even further in delivering our priorities and ensure that, as we map the future of the world economy, we are doing so alongside our closest partners," said Rishi Sunak in a statement from Delhi.
- Tharman Shanmugaratnam joins growing list of Indian-origin leaders dominating world politicsTharman Shanmugaratnam's victory in Singapore's presidential election adds him to a growing list of Indian-origin leaders in important world capitals. This trend is seen in the US with Kamala Harris becoming the first woman and person of color to hold the position of Vice President. Additionally, Rishi Sunak became Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, and leaders of Indian heritage hold positions.
- Singapore PM Lee assures citizens, international partners of government's honesty, integrity amidst spate of political scandalsSingaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day message, has assured that his government will maintain its high standards of honesty and propriety. The city-state has recently been shaken by various political scandals that have involved ministers and lawmakers. This has included allegations of preferential treatment in the rental of state-owned properties, a corruption investigation into a transport minister and the resignations of two former MPs over their affair.
- Singapore parliament speaker, MP resign over affairSingapore's parliament speaker Tan Chuan Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui have resigned after engaging in an "inappropriate relationship". Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong accepted their resignations, which follow a rare high-level corruption probe into a cabinet minister that saw Transport Minister S. Iswaran arrested by Singapore's powerful Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
- India, ASEAN upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnershipIndia and the ASEAN decided to advance maritime cooperation, including in maritime security, countering piracy and armed robbery of ships, maritime safety and search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster management and emergency response and relief, according to the joint statement issued after the meeting.
- Must learn to be less thin-skinned: Tharoor on India lodging protest over Singapore PM's remarksTharoor's remarks came after India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Singapore over the comments made by its Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that almost half of the lawmakers in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them and suggesting a decline in the country's democratic polity from "Nehru's India".
- India summons envoy to protest Singapore prime minister's remarks"Many political systems today would be quite unrecognisable to their founding leaders. Ben-Gurion's Israel has morphed into one which can barely form a government, despite four general elections in two years. Meanwhile, a stream of senior politicians and officials in Israel face a litany of criminal charges, some have gone to jail."
- Nehru continues to inspire world leaders, but Modi denigrates him: Congress on Singapore PM's speechFormer prime minister Manmohan Singh said the BJP, despite being in power for more than seven years, continued to blame Nehru for the problems of the people. The Indian Overseas Congress also said on Twitter, "Nehru stands tall as an epitome of democracy! Listen to PM of Singapore who refers to Nehru when he speaks about building a democratic society. Hope our PM listens to it."
- Indonesia, Singapore sign key defence, extradition treaties in presence of nation leadersA similar defence agreement was first signed by the two countries in April 2007, but didn't to go into effect after opposition in Indonesia's Parliament. With the new airspace and extradition agreements meeting many of Jakarta's demands, it is widely expected that Indonesian lawmakers - the majority of whom belong to the government-led bloc - will pass the new treaties.
- Singapore cannot simply let go and let things rip, as PM Lee rules out indefinite lockdownSingapore's multi-ministry task force announced on Saturday a slew of measures for the effective opening up of the affluent city-state. These include requiring vaccination for all staff returning to the workplace from Jan 1, 2022, as well as adding China's Sinovac to the national vaccination programme and expanding the home recovery scheme to certain pregnant women, The Straits Times newspaper reported.
- Singapore PM Lee says COVID-19 here to stay, vows to reopen borders"One day this global pandemic will subside. But I do not expect COVID-19 to disappear. It will remain with humankind, and become endemic. The virus will continue to circulate in pockets of the global population for years to come. This also means we will see small outbreaks of the disease from time to time in Singapore as well," he said.
- Singapore hopes US can stabilise its ties with China: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong"If you (US) can establish a stable, predictable policy with bipartisan consensus (with China), I think it would be a great help to all your friends and partners who want to be able to depend on you and to rely on you, without the risk that one day the big power may suddenly decide its interests lie elsewhere," the Straits Times quoted Lee as saying.
- Singapore PM Lee returns to power with ‘clear mandate'; Opposition gainsSingapore PM Lee took the results as an “endorsement” of the party's policies and plans as he had called the elections amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The opposition Workers' Party secured 10 seats and defeated a team in the Group Representation Constituency of Sengkang led by former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Ng Chee Meng.
- One of Asia's premier business hubs prepares for a more troubled, less prosperous futureSingapore is spending S$93 billion ($66.7 billion), or 20% of its gross domestic product, as part of its economic response, helping workers stay in their jobs as well as supporting businesses and their employees to cope with the fallout from the virus. But this level of spending is going to be hard to sustain, the nation's top leader has admitted.
- After 35 years on the run, Ex Singapore MP Phey Yew Kok surrenders; faces probePhey, then aged 45, jumped bail and took a train to Kuala Lumpur and evaded attempts to track him down in Thailand for 35 years, The Straits Times reported today.
- Singapore former President SR Nathan making "good" recovery after strokeThe 90-year-old Indian-origin leader suffered a stroke on April 14 following which he was admitted to the hospital.