PM Lawrence Wong Warns Against Illegal Weaponization of Strait of Hormuz as Maritime Chokepoints Face Increasing Risk

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tells world leaders that blockading the Strait of Hormuz sets a dangerous precedent for global maritime chokepoints.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 7:20 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

A Stark Warning on Maritime Precedent

During an April 17, 2026, summit hosted by France and Britain, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the current situation poses a systemic threat to global stability. He argued that if any party is permitted to weaponize international waterways illegally, it would invite similar aggression at other maritime chokepoints. For Singapore, which sits at the nexus of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the implications of such a precedent are particularly severe. Wong stressed that a world governed by coercion rather than international law would lead to a fundamentally more disorderly and unstable environment.

Upholding the Right of Transit Passage

The Prime Minister reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), noting that the right of transit passage is a cornerstone of international trade. He asserted that it is in the collective interest of the global community to ensure that critical sea lanes remain open, secure, and accessible. This position was reinforced by a joint statement delivered at the UN General Assembly by Singapore’s Permanent Representative, Burhan Gafoor, on behalf of other founding UNCLOS nations including Fiji, Jamaica, and Malta. Singapore’s diplomatic efforts aim to reaffirm that navigational freedoms are non-negotiable and must be protected from arbitrary controls.

Fragile Ceasefire and the Blockade Stalemate

The current geopolitical climate is marked by a tenuous 10-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, brokered by Pakistan on April 8. However, the Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of contention. While Iran has maintained a blockade since late February, the U.S. initiated its own naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13. Prime Minister Wong noted that while Iran claimed the strait was open for the duration of a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Washington’s naval blockade will remain in "full force" until a comprehensive deal with Tehran is reached. Wong argued that true resolution of the conflict is impossible while the strait remains subject to blockades or tolls.