Lawrence Wong Outlines Strategy for Global Instability and AI

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered the 2026 National Day Rally speech on August 23 at ITE College Central, warning that Singapore faces a global environment that is more contested, unstable, and dangerous than before. Citing an energy crisis in the Middle East and intensifying US-China tensions, Wong described these disruptions as a new normal. He stated that Singapore will avoid turning inward, focusing instead on building diverse international partnerships and strengthening the centrality of ASEAN as the country prepares to chair the bloc next year.

To maintain national resilience, Wong outlined a strategy for integrating disruptive technologies to address manpower shortages caused by an aging taxi driver population and bus captain recruitment difficulties. The government plans to progressively scale up autonomous vehicles while providing retraining and support for affected taxi and private-hire drivers. Additionally, the government is promoting AI agents to improve healthcare outcomes and enhance small and medium-sized enterprises.

While embracing innovation, Wong warned of the risks of AI agents going rogue, referencing recent incidents involving OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta. He called for global cooperation to establish common rules and practical safeguards for powerful AI systems. To protect citizens during this period of turbulence, the government has already implemented support packages for businesses and households and managed evacuations from the Middle East.