“For small states, governance by international law is not a matter of choice but one of survival,” Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong said at the UN headquarters in New York on Oct. 29.
When the United Nations convenes in New York on Tuesday to elect judges to the International Court of Justice, Singapore will be watching keenly with unprecedented interest. For the first time since joining the UN as a newly independent nation in 1965, the country has fielded a candidate for the world’s highest judicial bench.
A Historic Bid at the Peace Palace
Ms Rena Lee, 57, is one of 10 candidates vying for five contested seats on the Peace Palace bench in The Hague for the 2027 to 2036 term. Her candidature was first announced in 2024, and she was formally nominated in 2026. Should she win, she would make history as the first female ICJ judge from Southeast Asia and one of the first women from a small nation to serve on the court.
Foreign Policy and Survival for Small States
The bid is seen as far more than an individual milestone. Securing a seat on the 15-judge ICJ, also known as the World Court, goes to the core of Singapore’s foreign policy and security as a small island nation.
Addressing the 193-member UN General Assembly ahead of the vote, Mr. Tong said upholding international law and the UN Charter is paramount to ensure that might does not make right in an increasingly contested world. All states, big or small, old or young, are treated as sovereign equals before the court, he noted.
Tracking Tuesday’s High-Stakes Ballot
That perspective underpins why analysts are closely tracking Tuesday’s ballot. Ms. Lee currently serves as Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law.
Observers point out that the decision to enter the race reflects the nation’s record of championing the rule of law through multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Confidence in Global Legal Institutions
“This (outcome would be) a very significant – and, from my perspective, a welcome, if not historic, development,” said Associate Professor Vincent-Joël Proulx from the National University of Singapore’s faculty of law.
According to Assoc Prof Proulx, Singapore’s participation demonstrates confidence in international law institutions despite the considerable campaigning and lobbying resources required. By providing expertise in international law and dispute resolution, the country aims to contribute to the consistency, stability, and predictability of the global legal order.
