German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Makes First Official Visit to Singapore
Bilateral Trade Expands As Friedrich Merz Arrives For First Singapore Visit
Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Friedrich Merz arrived in Singapore on October 27, 2026, marking his first official visit to the Republic and showing a growing economic and strategic partnership between the two nations.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will host a welcome ceremony and a subsequent bilateral meeting, followed by an official dinner in honour of the German leader. The two-day diplomatic engagement includes high-level calls with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and a lunch hosted by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Happy to welcome German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his first visit to Singapore. Singapore and Germany have been close partners for a long time. We have built strong economic and defence ties, grounded in a shared commitment to an open, rules-based international order. pic.twitter.com/hS7RWxMLa0
Bilateral trade in goods with Germany reached $23.4 billion in 2025, while services trade climbed to approximately $14.1 billion in 2024, according to AsiaOne. Beyond economic exchanges, the two countries maintain deep defense ties, utilizing German-built hardware including Invincible-class submarines and Sentinel-class Offshore Patrol Vessels for Singapore’s maritime security.
Strategic Partnership Evolves Since 1965 Independence Recognition
Germany was among the initial global powers to recognize Singapore’s independence in 1965. Chancellor Helmut Schmidt made the first official visit by a German leader to the city-state in 1978, setting a precedent that every successive chancellor has followed.
Diplomatic ties shifted to a formal strategic partnership in November 2024, facilitating frequent high-level exchanges across defense, science, technology, and economic sectors. People-to-people connections remain strong, highlighted by nearly 360,000 German visitors traveling to Singapore over the past year.
Singapore Lecture Addresses Indo-Pacific Competitiveness
Chancellor Merz is scheduled to deliver the 49th Singapore Lecture on October 28, 2026. Organized by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, the address is titled “Germany and the Indo-Pacific: Partnership, Competitiveness, and Resilience in a Changing World.”
Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo will chair the lecture session.
Bilateral Engagements Conclude On October 28
The official visit concludes on October 28, 2026, after completing the scheduled itinerary of ministerial meetings, state receptions, and policy addresses.
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Hosted German Federal Chancellor @_FriedrichMerz to lunch today, during his first visit to Singapore. I am confident that our countries will continue to deepen our cooperation and friendship in the years ahead. – LHL https://t.co/kL8qJBkCa7 pic.twitter.com/dZCHWUkX4X