# Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Malay: Kementerian Ehwal Luar Negeri; Chinese: 新加坡外交部; Tamil: வெளியுறவு அமைச்சு) is in charge of the country's foreign relations, as well as handling matters and providing consular assistance related to overseas Singaporean citizens. It was established on 9 August 1965. A ministry for the Government of Singapore, it is also responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

## Organisational structure

The ministry now has 50 overseas missions including 7 high commissions, 21 embassies, 4 permanent missions to the United Nations, and 17 consulates. Singapore has appointed 31 honorary consuls-general/consuls abroad and has 46 non-resident ambassadors and high commissioners based in Singapore.
The ministry is currently divided into 11 directorates which deal with political and economic matters, and 7 directorates which oversee matters relating to protocol, consular issues and the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) among others.
The Corporate Affairs Directorate oversees organisational and resource management while the Human Resource Directorate and Diplomatic Academy manage the development of personnel and training.

## Impact

Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 188 countries. In Singapore, there are 70 resident foreign embassies and high commissions, 43 foreign consulates and 11 international organisations based in Singapore. In addition, more than 60 non-resident foreign ambassadors are accredited to Singapore.

## Ministers

The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore.
| Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Party | Cabinet |
| S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006) | 9 August 1965 | 30 May 1980 | PAP | Lee K. II |
| S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006) | 9 August 1965 | 30 May 1980 | PAP | Lee K. III |
| S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006) | 9 August 1965 | 30 May 1980 | PAP | Lee K. IV |
| S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006) | 9 August 1965 | 30 May 1980 | PAP | Lee K. V |
| S. Dhanabalan MP for Kallang (born 1937) | 1 June 1980 | 12 September 1988 | PAP | Lee K. V |
| S. Dhanabalan MP for Kallang (born 1937) | 1 June 1980 | 12 September 1988 | PAP | Lee K. VI |
| S. Dhanabalan MP for Kallang (born 1937) | 1 June 1980 | 12 September 1988 | PAP | Lee K. VII |
| Wong Kan Seng MP for Kuo Chuan SMC & Thomson GRC (born 1946) | 13 September 1988 | 1 January 1994 | PAP | Lee K. VIII |
| Wong Kan Seng MP for Kuo Chuan SMC & Thomson GRC (born 1946) | 13 September 1988 | 1 January 1994 | PAP | Goh I |
| Wong Kan Seng MP for Kuo Chuan SMC & Thomson GRC (born 1946) | 13 September 1988 | 1 January 1994 | PAP | Goh II |
| S. Jayakumar MP for Bedok GRC & East Coast GRC (born 1939) | 2 January 1994 | 12 August 2004 | PAP | Goh II |
| S. Jayakumar MP for Bedok GRC & East Coast GRC (born 1939) | 2 January 1994 | 12 August 2004 | PAP | Goh III |
| S. Jayakumar MP for Bedok GRC & East Coast GRC (born 1939) | 2 January 1994 | 12 August 2004 | PAP | Goh IV |
| George Yeo MP for Aljunied GRC (born 1954) | 12 August 2004 | 20 May 2011 | PAP | Lee H. I |
| George Yeo MP for Aljunied GRC (born 1954) | 12 August 2004 | 20 May 2011 | PAP | Lee H. II |
| K. Shanmugam MP for Nee Soon GRC (born 1959) | 21 May 2011 | 30 September 2015 | PAP | Lee H. III |
| Vivian Balakrishnan MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (born 1961) | 1 October 2015 | Incumbent | PAP | Lee H. IV |
| Vivian Balakrishnan MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (born 1961) | 1 October 2015 | Incumbent | PAP | Lee H. V |
| Vivian Balakrishnan MP for Holland–Bukit Timah GRC (born 1961) | 1 October 2015 | Incumbent | PAP | Wong I |