Singapore backs Ambassador Rena Lee's bid for International Court of Justice seat

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Law issued a joint statement confirming their full backing of Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee's candidature for a judge seat on the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Lee, 57, is the first Singaporean nominated for the court, and she is among ten candidates competing for five seats in the 2027-2036 term. Voting will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, involving both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Law Minister Edwin Tong are in New York to support Lee's bid and were scheduled to host a reception for her. > "Her deep expertise, strong conviction in the rule of law, and ability to understand different perspectives in resolving differences would be an asset to the ICJ," Balakrishnan said, adding that Singapore, as a small state, has long championed the rule-of-law system.

Tong highlighted Lee's grasp of international law as both doctrine and a practical framework for state action. > "She brings intellectual independence, sound judgment and an appreciation of the practical consequences of legal reasoning," he said, noting that the court benefits from judges with varied legal traditions and experiences.

The ministries' release described Lee as a distinguished practitioner with more than three decades of experience in areas such as the law of the sea, environmental law, humanitarian law and human rights. It cited her role as president of the UN Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, which helped secure the 2023 BBNJ Agreement protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. The statement concluded that Lee's integrity, impartiality and vision for a rules-based international order make her a strong candidate for the ICJ.