Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said today’s world reminds him of the situation before WW1.

He said the world is entering a very dangerous phase where miscalculations could easily lead nations down a path of conflict, and that the period of growth and opportunity Singapore has enjoyed since independence has come to an end.

Dr Balakrishnan was elaborating on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech in which he spoke of how Singapore's external environment has become very troubled on The Straits Times The Big Story with Lynn Lee-Foo.