SINGAPORE / NEW YORK — Singapore has secured a historic place on the world’s highest court after Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee was elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), becoming the first Singaporean to serve as a judge on the institution.
Lee’s election on November 3 marks a major milestone not only for Singapore but also for Southeast Asia. She is the first woman from the region to be elected to the ICJ, a United Nations institution responsible for resolving legal disputes between countries and issuing advisory opinions on international legal questions.
The 57-year-old diplomat secured 151 votes in the UN General Assembly and 13 votes in the UN Security Council, obtaining the required absolute majority in both bodies. She received the highest number of votes in the General Assembly and joint-highest support in the Security Council.
Her nine-year term will begin in February 2027 and run through 2036.
The result follows an extensive diplomatic campaign by Singapore, which had placed its support behind Lee’s candidature as part of its broader commitment to international law and multilateral institutions.
But beyond the national celebration, her election raises a wider question: what could Singapore’s first seat on the World Court mean for the country’s influence in international legal affairs?
Rena Lee Becomes Singapore’s First Judge on the World Court
Lee’s election is an unprecedented achievement for Singapore.
Although the country has long participated in international legal institutions and has relied on international law to protect its interests, no Singaporean had previously been elected to the ICJ.
The court has 15 judges who serve staggered nine-year terms. Elections are held every three years, with five positions normally filled during each election cycle.
The judges are elected independently by the UN General Assembly and Security Council. A candidate must secure an absolute majority in both bodies to win a seat.
Lee achieved that requirement during the November 3 election at UN headquarters in New York.
Her result demonstrates the level of support she received across the two institutions, whose memberships and voting dynamics are different.
The election also places Singapore among the countries represented on the bench of the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
The Numbers Behind Her Historic Victory
Lee received 151 votes from the 191 valid ballots cast in the General Assembly.
In the Security Council, she obtained 13 votes out of 15, giving her the necessary majority in the second voting body.
The results were particularly significant because the ICJ election requires candidates to win separate majorities rather than relying on a combined vote.
In other words, a candidate cannot secure a position simply by performing well in the General Assembly. Support from the Security Council is also essential.
Lee’s successful result therefore required broad diplomatic backing across both institutions.
She was among the candidates elected to fill vacancies for the next nine-year term, which begins in February 2027.
Her election is also a milestone for Southeast Asian representation. The last judge from the region to serve on the ICJ was former Philippine Chief Justice César Bengzon, whose term ended in 1976.
More than five decades later, Lee’s election brings a Southeast Asian representative back to the court.
Who Is Rena Lee?
Lee is an experienced international-law practitioner who has spent more than three decades working across government, diplomacy, legal affairs and international negotiations.
Before her election, she served as Singapore’s Ambassador for International Law.
Her professional experience covers several important areas, including:
- International law and legal diplomacy
- Law of the sea
- Environmental law
- International humanitarian law
- Human rights law
- Multilateral negotiations and treaty-making
She has also held positions in international legal institutions, including the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the Panel of Conciliators of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Within Singapore’s public service, she previously worked at the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Defence and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, where she served as chief executive.
Her career has involved both domestic government legal work and negotiations requiring cooperation among countries with different political, economic and legal interests.
That combination of experience formed a central part of Singapore’s case for her election.
The High-Seas Treaty That Helped Define Her International Career
One of Lee’s most significant achievements came through her leadership of negotiations on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
The negotiations focused on establishing an international framework for protecting marine life in international waters, areas that fall outside the national jurisdiction of individual countries.
Lee served as president of the United Nations Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly known as the BBNJ process.
She helped steer five years of complex negotiations that culminated in the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement in 2023.
The agreement established a legally binding framework addressing the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Its major areas include marine genetic resources, area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.
Reaching an agreement required countries to work through competing priorities involving conservation, scientific research, economic interests and access to marine resources.
For Lee, the negotiations demonstrated the importance of legal expertise, patience and consensus-building in international cooperation.
That experience is particularly relevant to Singapore, a country whose economy and strategic position are closely connected to international shipping and maritime activity.
Why Singapore Put Its Support Behind Her Candidature
Singapore’s campaign for Lee was part of a wider diplomatic effort to strengthen the country’s participation in international institutions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Law Minister Edwin Tong travelled to New York ahead of the election to support her candidature.
The Singapore Government had formally announced its intention to nominate Lee in October 2024. Her nomination was subsequently confirmed in 2026.
Singapore presented her as an experienced international-law practitioner who could contribute to the court through her understanding of legal principles, diplomatic negotiations and different national perspectives.
The government’s support also reflected a long-standing foreign-policy position: international rules and institutions are particularly important to smaller countries that cannot rely solely on economic or military influence.
WWC ONE MEDIA previously examined the government’s campaign in Singapore Backs Rena Lee for World Court Seat as Vivian Balakrishnan and Edwin Tong Join Election Push — But Can Singapore Win Its First ICJ Judgeship?.
That earlier report explored the diplomatic significance of Singapore’s bid before the voting took place. Lee’s successful election has now turned that campaign into a historic result.
What Does the International Court of Justice Actually Do?
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and is based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Its work is different from that of national courts because it primarily deals with legal disputes between states rather than criminal cases involving individuals.
Countries may bring disputes before the court when they have accepted its jurisdiction under the applicable legal arrangements.
The ICJ also issues advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised United Nations organs and agencies.
Its work can involve major international issues, including:
- Territorial sovereignty and border disputes
- Maritime boundaries and rights at sea
- Interpretation of international treaties
- State responsibility under international law
- Diplomatic and legal obligations between countries
- Questions involving environmental and humanitarian law
The court does not have its own police force or independent military mechanism to enforce its decisions. Its authority rests on international law, the legal obligations of states and the wider UN system.
Nevertheless, its judgments and advisory opinions can have significant legal and diplomatic consequences.
Lee Will Not Serve as Singapore’s Representative on the Bench
One important point about her new position is that Lee will not act as Singapore’s advocate inside the court.
Although she is a Singaporean national and was nominated with the government’s support, ICJ judges are expected to exercise independent judgment.
Their responsibility is to apply international law impartially, not to advance the interests of their home governments.
This distinction is fundamental to the court’s credibility.
A judge may be required to participate in cases involving countries with which they have personal, professional or national connections. The court has procedures governing questions of participation and impartiality.
Lee’s election therefore does not give Singapore a guaranteed advantage in future disputes.
Instead, it gives an experienced Singaporean international lawyer an opportunity to contribute to the court as an independent judge.
Singapore’s History With the World Court
Singapore already has an important history involving the ICJ.
One of the most notable examples is the territorial dispute involving Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, which Singapore and Malaysia jointly submitted to the court in 2003.
In May 2008, the ICJ ruled that sovereignty over Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, while sovereignty over Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia.
The court determined that sovereignty over South Ledge belonged to the state in whose territorial waters it was located.
The judgment remains a significant example of how international legal procedures can help countries resolve difficult territorial questions without resorting to force.
For Singapore, the case reinforced the importance of documentation, historical evidence, legal arguments and peaceful dispute settlement.
Lee’s election now gives the country a direct connection to the court through one of its own international-law practitioners, although her judicial responsibilities will remain independent of Singapore’s national interests.
Why Her Election Matters Beyond Singapore
Lee’s achievement carries significance across Southeast Asia.
Her election makes her the first woman from the region to serve as an ICJ judge, while also ending a long period without a Southeast Asian national on the court.
The region has substantial interests in the legal questions the ICJ handles.
Maritime boundaries, territorial sovereignty, environmental protection, international trade and the interpretation of treaties are all relevant to countries across the Asia-Pacific.
Southeast Asia is also home to important shipping routes and maritime areas where overlapping interests can create complex legal questions.
Having a judge from the region does not mean the court will automatically favour Southeast Asian positions. Judges are expected to decide cases independently.
However, the presence of different professional and regional backgrounds can contribute to the diversity of legal perspectives represented on the bench.
Lee’s experience in maritime negotiations and international law will form part of that contribution.
The Victory Fits Singapore’s Longstanding Push for Multilateralism
Singapore has consistently argued that international institutions and shared rules are important to maintaining stability among countries of different sizes.
For a small and highly connected economy, predictable international arrangements help support trade, maritime access, diplomatic relations and national sovereignty.
Balakrishnan has repeatedly raised the importance of international law and multilateral cooperation in discussions at the United Nations.
In September, WWC ONE MEDIA reported on Singapore’s call for stronger multilateralism and global AI rules in Singapore Pushes Stronger Multilateralism and Global AI Rules at UN General Assembly.
That report covered the government’s argument that countries need shared rules to address challenges that cannot be managed effectively through individual national policies alone.
Lee’s election represents another dimension of that approach: Singapore is no longer only advocating for international legal institutions from outside the courtroom. It will now have one of its own citizens serving as a judge on the world’s principal international court.
The country has also maintained diplomatic engagement with other small and medium-sized states, an approach explored in WWC ONE MEDIA’s report, Vivian Balakrishnan Heads to UN General Assembly as Singapore Prepares for High-Level Diplomatic Talks.
Together, these developments illustrate how Singapore uses diplomacy, legal expertise and international partnerships to maintain its role in global affairs.
What Changes When Lee Begins Her Term in 2027?
Lee’s election is official, but her work on the court will begin with the start of her term in February 2027.
Once she takes office, she will join the 15-member bench and participate in the court’s judicial responsibilities.
Her work may involve contentious cases between states, advisory proceedings and deliberations on questions of international law.
The cases she hears will depend on the matters brought before the court and the applicable rules governing its jurisdiction.
Her nine-year appointment means she could serve through February 2036.
During that period, the court may be asked to consider disputes involving maritime boundaries, territorial claims, treaty obligations and other questions with far-reaching international consequences.
The role will require her to approach each case independently, regardless of the political significance or the identities of the countries involved.
A Milestone for Women in International Law
Lee’s election also represents a significant development for women in international legal institutions.
The ICJ has historically had limited female representation compared with the number of countries and legal systems represented on its bench.
Her election as the first woman from Southeast Asia to join the court creates a new milestone for the region.
It also highlights the growing importance of women serving in senior diplomatic, legal and multilateral roles.
Her professional path has included government legal work, international negotiations and leadership in a major United Nations treaty process.
Her appointment will place that experience within one of the most prominent judicial institutions in the international system.
The Bigger Picture: What This Means for Singapore’s Global Role
Lee’s election is more than a personal career achievement.
It represents a major moment for Singapore’s international diplomacy and its long-standing emphasis on the rule of law.
The country has repeatedly argued that smaller states need functioning international institutions because global stability cannot depend entirely on the decisions of the most powerful nations.
The ICJ is one of the institutions through which international legal principles are interpreted and applied.
Having a Singaporean judge on its bench does not guarantee particular outcomes for the country, nor does it give the government control over the court.
But it gives Singapore a historic opportunity to contribute through an experienced legal professional who will be expected to exercise independent judgment.
For Southeast Asia, the result also restores regional representation on the court after decades without a judge from the region.
The Bottom Line
Rena Lee’s election to the International Court of Justice marks a historic achievement for Singapore and a significant moment for Southeast Asia.
With 151 votes in the UN General Assembly and 13 in the Security Council, she secured the support needed to join the court for a nine-year term beginning in February 2027.
Her more than three decades of international-law experience, leadership in the negotiations that produced the 2023 high-seas biodiversity agreement, and work across government and international institutions helped establish her professional credentials for the role.
For Singapore, the result strengthens its presence in global legal institutions and reflects its continued commitment to international law and multilateral cooperation.
But the real significance of her appointment will be measured by the work ahead.
As disputes involving sovereignty, maritime boundaries, environmental obligations and international treaties continue to challenge countries, Lee will be expected to contribute as an independent judge rather than a representative of Singapore.
Can Rena Lee’s historic appointment help strengthen confidence in international law while giving Southeast Asia a more visible place in global judicial affairs? Her nine-year term will provide the opportunity to find out.
