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Singapore The Soviet Union
In 1989 Singapore maintained both economic and
diplomatic
relations with the Soviet Union. From the mid-1960s until
the mid1970s , Singapore's leaders promoted trade relations with
Moscow in
the belief that a Soviet role in Southeast Asia would
ensure the
permanent interest of the United States in the region. The
Soviet
Union was viewed as a major power and as a counterweight
to China,
and, therefore, as a significant factor in maintaining the
regional
power balance. This view changed when the Soviets
established a
military presence at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, following
the signing
of the Soviet-Vietnamese Treaty of Friendship and
Cooperation in
November 1978, and actively supported the Vietnamese
invasion of
Cambodia a month later. At that time, according to
Singapore,
Moscow became a threat to regional stability.
Soviet diplomacy toward the region changed, however, in
the
mid-1980s under the leadership of new geeneral secretary
Mikhail
Gorbachev. Beginning with a milestone foreign policy
address in
Vladivostok in July 1986, he initiated extended ties with
the ASEAN
states and committed the Soviet Union to playing a more
constructive role in resolving the Cambodian issue. His
interest in
improving ties with the region and his new emphasis on
Soviet
economic development acted to modify regional perceptions.
Singapore, as well as many of its ASEAN partners, became
increasingly receptive to upgrading their bilateral
relations with
Moscow.
Trade, banking, and shipping were the three critical
areas of
Singapore's economic ties with Moscow. Singapore's exports
were
mainly in the form of repairs to Soviet vessels in
Singapore
shipyards. Other exports included rubber, coconut oil, and
fuel
oil. In return, the Soviets exported fish and fish
products, cast
iron, light machinery, and crude oil. Beginning in the
mid-1980s,
the Soviets encouraged Singaporean firms to invest in
joint
ventures in the Soviet Union. Singapore's shipyards were
reported
in 1988 to be interested in reconstructing and developing
the port
of Nakhodka, the second largest port in the Soviet Far
East after
Vladivostok.
Data as of December 1989
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