Singapore’s former PM Lee Hsien Loong recently questioned whether American intervention in Venezuela is even legal. Honestly? That reaction was very on-brand.
If you’re running a small, trade-dependent country like Singapore, you must believe in rules. Borders respected. Governments recognised. Nobody anyhow whack anybody. Otherwise, small states like us are the first to kena.
So yes, he said what he had to say. National interest, 101. No shock there.
But here’s the thing.
Once you zoom out, the whole situation feels… gross.
The Dream We Were Sold
On paper, the international rule-based order sounds damn shiok.
Countries come together.
Agree not to invade.
Respect borders.
Respect sovereignty.
Let people decide their own future.
Clean. Logical. Very textbook.
Actually, it’s a beautiful dream.
But reality? Wah, different story already.
The Awkward Truth Nobody Likes to Say
Most countries are not run by saints.
They’re run by strongmen, crooks, or clowns. Sometimes all-in-one bundle deal.
And because of this, something very weird happens.
Leaders who grab power through violence or fraud still get treated like legit heads of state. Their countries keep all the protections. Meanwhile, the people inside suffer quietly, while the world pretends everything is fine.
Even worse, countries affected by these regimes have almost zero legal options.
Why? Because international bodies move slower than MRT during signal fault.
Someone will veto.
Someone will block.
Someone’s “strategic partner” must be protected.
Confirm-plus-guarantee.
The Venezuela Example (Yes, This One)
Take Nicolas Maduro.
Ignore elections? Can.
Jail opponents? Can.
Thousands dead? Still can.
Drugs, sanctions dodging, shady alliances? Also can.
International response?
Strong words.
Concerned statements.
Zero consequences.
But the moment another country tries to remove him by force — suddenly he’s the victim. Suddenly everyone discovers international law.
You see the problem or not?
When Rules Protect the Wrong People
This is where the system becomes absurd.
Tyrants are protected because they are “sovereign.”
Victims are ignored because they are inconvenient.
And countries like Singapore? They understandably want everyone to keep pretending the rules work. Because once rules collapse, small states suffer first.
But let’s be real for a second.
That also means accepting millions of people living in hell… just so the global system can look “stable” on PowerPoint slides.
That’s not stability. That’s denial.
The Uncomfortable Reality About International Law
Here’s the part people don’t like to admit.
International law doesn’t really exist.
Law needs enforcement. Simple.
In a country, you break the law → police come → court → prison. End of story.
Remove enforcement, and the law becomes suggestion only.
At the global level, who’s the police?
The UN Security Council.
Sounds powerful, right? Until you remember every permanent member has veto power.
Translation:
Big players can do whatever they want.
Their friends also get immunity.
International courts can issue rulings, but nobody has to listen.
UN resolutions get passed, but nothing happens.
It’s not law.
It’s theatre.
So Why Do We Keep Playing Along?
Because the alternative is scary.
A world with no shared rules is chaotic. Small countries get crushed. Trade collapses. Security disappears.
So everyone keeps pretending the system works, even when it clearly doesn’t.
Honestly, it’s not absurd anymore.
It’s just messed up.
Between You & Me
If I’m being brutally honest, the global system today feels like a condo MCST run by bullies. Rules apply to residents, but the biggest unit owner can smash walls anytime and still complain about noise from others.
I get why Singapore clings to multilateralism. We need rules more than most. But sometimes, defending the system feels like defending a lie we all know is broken.
At some point, pretending stops helping.
And the people paying the price are never the ones in power.
Just saying.
