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David Lammy

Last year, just three weeks into my new job, I visited Laos for the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. I did so with a clear mission: to reconnect the United Kingdom with the Indo-Pacific. I said then that I would be back. And I’ve kept that promise. I’ve just completed my fifth visit to the region, covering 10 countries – from India to Indonesia, Samoa to Singapore.
We are already seeing real achievements from this investment. Our free-trade agreement with India – now signed. Our membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) – now ratified. New partnerships with Thailand and the Philippines – now launched.
This matters to the UK because this region is where the 21st century economy is being forged. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for example, is set to be the fastest-growing economic bloc this decade – no surprise, given the region’s embrace of technology.
I saw this clearly in Singapore. From the early days of the national computerisation committee to the Smart Nation initiative and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Singapore has consistently been ahead of the curve.
But this story is not just about Singapore. Whether meeting entrepreneurs in India or seeing British investment in a bustling Jakarta metro station, I’ve seen many examples this past year of the dynamism of the Indo-Pacific. It’s no surprise to me that Asean is already the world’s fifth-largest economy. And with half the bloc’s population aged under 30, it’s only just getting started.


The UK’s Labour government, elected last year, is seizing the opportunities offered by new technology too. The UK is home to Europe’s largest tech sector, and we’re investing in the future. Our new Industrial Strategy targets high-growth sectors like digital technology, while our AI Opportunities Action Plan too seeks to strengthen our AI capabilities by supporting pioneering British AI firms.
But we are keen to learn from others. My visit was a chance to listen, and to learn how we can pursue a similarly long-term strategy.
We know that the success of our industrial strategy depends on the strength of our trade and investment partnerships with countries like Singapore. Outside the United States and China, no country has the scale to deliver all the capabilities we need independently. We want to see deeper collaboration between nations like ours, within a perimeter of values.
The UK backs the deepening of the CPTPP, including updates to the rules on digital trade, and wants to see the bloc establish dialogues with other major groupings such as Asean and the European Union. We are also exploring membership of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement which Singapore co-founded. Today’s “digital trade” will tomorrow simply be “trade” – the UK is committed to making it faster, cheaper and easier.
We are also strengthening our dialogue partnership with Asean, now entering its fifth year. We are supporting the bloc’s work to bolster its economic resilience. A proposed UK-Asean AI innovation summit later this year will be a chance to focus on how we harness AI to support economic growth. And the UK will soon welcome cohorts of Asean Chevening and Women in STEM scholars we have sponsored.

We recognise that growth relies on security. The UK stands for an open, stable and rules-based international system precisely because we see the costs of a more disorderly world. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove market turbulence in Asia. Any major supply chain disruption in Asia could push prices up in the UK.
That’s why the UK is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Last month, our carrier strike group became part of the iconic Marina Bay skyline before sailing on to Australia. Last week, I was honoured Malaysia invited me to address the Asean Regional Forum for the first time. And we are deepening our many regional security partnerships, including the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
It’s also important that we adjust to technology’s impact on security as well. We have been working closely with Singapore on responsible AI in the military realm. And in Singapore last month, our carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, hosted defence industry leaders to discuss emerging defence technologies such as autonomous platforms and maritime sensors.
We live in an increasingly volatile world. The line between the domestic and international, between economics and security, has become blurred. We need to keep investing in our friendships, making them resilient and focused on the future.
That’s what took me to this region. And I am sure it will keep bringing me back in the months and years ahead.


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Britain is on a clear mission to reconnect with the Asia-Pacific

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French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: EPA

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses parliament in the Palace of Westminster. Photo: AP

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Opinion

World Opinion

Asia Opinion

News

World

Europe

Asia

Southeast Asia

Diplomacy

South Asia

On trade, technology, digital rules and security, the UK is shoring up its friendships in the region in an increasingly volatile world


On trade, technology, digital rules and security, the UK is shoring up its friendships in the region in an increasingly volatile world.


UK economy

Britain

Trade

Singapore

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Defence

Technology

Malaysia

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Laos

Ukraine

Sweden

Thailand

India

The Philippines

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Britain is on a clear mission to reconnect with the Asia-Pacific

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}On trade, technology, digital rules and security, the UK is shoring up its friendships in the region in an increasingly volatile world

On trade, technology, digital rules and security, the UK is shoring up its friendships in the region in an increasingly volatile world