RSIS held a Distinguished Book Launch of “Singapore is Still not an Island” by Mr Bilahari Kausikan, current Chairman of the Middle East Institute and former Ambassador to the Russian Federation, on 20 July 2023. During his 37 years in the Ministry, Mr Kausikan served in a variety of appointments at home and abroad, including as Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Permanent Representative to the UN in New York and as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry. Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University in New York all attempted to educate him.

At the book launch was Guest-of-Honour, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Former Deputy Prime Minister, and Former Coordinating Minister for National Security; the author, Mr Bilahari Kausikan; Panellists Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and Mr Peter Ho, Senior Advisor, Centre for Strategic Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore; and Ms Tan Lian Choo, Book Editor and Consultant, Private Practice, who was Chairperson of the event.

About the book

Retired Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan gives his perspectives on regional and global developments that pertain to Singapore’s foreign policy.

A first collection of essays and public speeches, covering the period from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to 2017, was published under the title “Singapore Is Not An Island”. This second collection of articles and speeches builds on this and covers events up to 2023.

Sharing his strategic insights through various essays, talks and papers, Bilahari shows why and how Singapore and ASEAN should navigate the new strategic environment. Global and regional issues are examined through the realistic lens of Singapore’s foreign policy interests.

Watch the Distinguished Book Launch here: