Singapore Embassy in Paris / Ambassade de Singapour à Paris

ENHANCED SECURITY AND RESTRICTED ACCESS ON 30-31 MAY 2026

Dear Singaporeans in France,

Large crowds can be expected in parts of Paris tomorrow in relation to sports events.

The French authorities have also put in place enhanced security measures, including restricted access to key areas such as:
- Champs-Élysées
- Place de la Concorde
- Parc des Princes and Porte de Saint-Cloud

There may be disruptions to road traffic and public transport.

More details at: https://www.paris.fr/pages/les-perturbations-a-paris-31469

⚠️ Please exercise vigilance and plan your movements accordingly. We urge you to monitor local media for the latest developments.

✅ We take this opportunity to remind you to eRegister with MFA so that we can contact you if necessary, and for those visiting France, to purchase comprehensive travel insurance.

📞 Should you require assistance, please contact the Singapore Embassy's emergency number at +33 6 75 03 25 55.

I attended Mistral AI’s AI Now Summit and it was impressive to see the growing momentum around trusted and applied AI adoption globally.

The summit brought together an exceptional mix of leaders across industry, energy, public sector and technology to discuss the future of AI deployment and innovation. Singapore was also represented by Chief Executive Chan Tsan of HTXSG, who shared about deploying AI on a national scale. I was proud that Forge, one of Mistral’s new products, was co-created with HTX in Singapore.

I also met with Arthur Mensch, CEO and co-founder of Mistral AI, and we discussed Mistral AI’s growth and success in Singapore. It was encouraging to hear the strong affirmation of Singapore as a trusted partner, supported by close collaborations with agencies such as HTX and DSO National Laboratories, as well as Singapore’s role as a valuable reference market.

Congratulations to the Mistral AI team on a successful summit and their impressive growth in Singapore to date! We look forward to seeing Mistral AI continue to deepen its presence in Singapore in the years ahead.

- Umej Bhatia

Happy to connect with Mr Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO of Thales. Mr Caine is no stranger to Singapore, having visited recently for the Singapore Airshow, and is widely regarded as one of France’s leading corporate thought leaders in the areas of technology, innovation and industrial strategy.

We had an excellent discussion on the strong and longstanding partnership between Thales and Singapore across areas such as avionics, AI, radar and sonar systems, as well as innovation and talent development.

Thales has established multiple collaborative labs with Singapore partners, enabling talents from both sides to work together on shared challenges and innovative solutions. The strong working relationships with Team Singapore, including Singapore Economic Development Board - EDB, DSTA Defence Science and Technology Agency, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, HTXSG and ST Engineering, continue to provide momentum and continuity to the France-Singapore partnership.

- Umej Bhatia

A valuable meeting with Director-General for International Relations and Strategy of the Ministère des Armées, Mr Guillaume Ollagnier earlier this week, to exchange views on regional developments and the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Singapore and France enjoy excellent bilateral relations, underpinned by strong and longstanding defence cooperation. The The Republic of Singapore Air Force's Advanced Jet Training in Cazaux Air Base, now in its 28th year, is testament to the level of trust between our countries. We also discussed the importance of upholding a rules-based international order in support of regional stability, security, and open cooperation.

We look forward to the participation of the French delegation, led by Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans H.E. Catherine Vautrin, and including Mr Ollagnier, at the Shangri-La Dialogue that will take place in Singapore at the end of this month.

- Umej Bhatia

Pleased to meet with High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning Mr Clément Beaune last week for a productive and valuable introductory discussion on strategic planning and the growing importance of foresight work in navigating an increasingly complex global environment.

The High Commissariat for Strategy and Planning is France’s long-term strategy and planning office. It informs collective decision-making on demographic, economic, social, environmental, health, technological, and cultural issues, within both national and European frameworks. Its role is similar to that of the Strategy Group in Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office and the Centre for Strategic Futures in scenario planning and anticipating future risks and disruptions.

We exchanged views on long-term policy thinking, resilience, and the value of anticipating emerging trends and challenges. Singapore and France share a strong commitment to forward-looking governance, and I look forward to continued exchanges in these areas.

- Umej Bhatia

Honoured to be part of ONERA - The French Aerospace Lab's 80th anniversary celebration. As France's leading national aerospace research centre for both civil and defense applications, ONERA has deep links with Singapore's defence, science and technology ecosystem, including with DSO National Laboratories and National University of Singapore with collaborations dating back to 1999. Also took the chance to connect with our key stakeholders who are instrumental in strengthening the France-Singapore defence technology relationship.

- Umej Bhatia

Ambassador Umej Bhatia hosted a working lunch for Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to brief ASEAN Ambassadors on Wednesday. The event provided a valuable opportunity to discuss pressing global and regional energy challenges given the current geopolitical situation, highlight the IEA’s cooperation with Southeast Asia, and exchange views on further areas of collaboration, in recognition of the region’s growing role in global energy. A strong expression of support was made for continued collaboration in key regional energy projects like the ASEAN Power Grid.

Southeast Asia has accounted for 11% of global energy demand growth since 2010 and is projected to contribute more than 25% of this growth by 2035, driven by strong economic expansion, population growth, and its role as a global manufacturing hub. The region is also an increasingly important contributor to the global energy transition, especially against the backdrop of significant energy security risks. To further strengthen its engagement in the region, the IEA established the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore last year, its first office outside Paris.

We thank Dr Birol and the ASEAN Ambassadors for sharing their invaluable insights and look forward to continual cooperation with the IEA.

2 Rafales x 2 M-346s

A Basic Fighter Manoeuvres training session was conducted last week between the French Air and Space Forces' 30th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 150 Squadron.

Based at Cazaux Air Base since 1998, the 150 Squadron provides training for Singaporean fighter aircrew and instructors.

Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office, visited France from 6 to 9 May 2026.

During his visit, Mr Teo met Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, Élysée Secretary-General Pierre-André Imbert, and other officials. He also had discussions with strategic and geopolitical experts based in Paris.

Singapore and France share a close and longstanding partnership. We deeply value our continued exchanges with French partners as we work together to navigate an increasingly complex global environment.

Ambassador Umej Bhatia had a productive introductory meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - based in Paris - was founded in 1961 to “build better policies for better lives”. Singapore has long participated in OECD workstreams and committees, from trade to economic development to fiscal norms. We welcome the OECD’s regional contributions, including through its Southeast Asia Regional Programme.

Secretary-General Cormann is an old friend of Singapore. We look forward to his participation and Special Address at Asia’s flagship tech event, Asia Tech x Singapore, later this month.