SINGAPORE — In a multipolar world, small countries like Singapore have to develop even deeper relationships with other nations, Singapore's Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Wednesday (July 9).«There are more powers playing the game as it were, as opposed to the time when the Americans held the peace across the world. So that's changing, and in such a context, small countries like us have to develop even deeper relationships,» said Shanmugam, pointing to China, the United States and Europe.Shanmugam, who is also coordinating minister for national security, was speaking in an interview at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore that covered trade issues as well as domestic concerns such as a fake news law.On trade, Shanmugam said the US was an indispensable nation and its policies impact «every country, allies and non-allies alike», especially for a trade-reliant country like Singapore where external trade is three to four times its GDP.On Monday, US President Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, including allies Japan and South Korea, notifying them of tariffs of 25 per cent to 40 per cent that will kick in from August 1. Read more