Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong defended an exclusive deal with Taylor Swift at the ASEAN summit, preventing her from performing in other Southeast Asian countries.

The exclusive deal is funded by a Singapore government tourism recovery fund and aims to boost local tourism but has created controversy among neighboring nations.

The undisclosed sum paid by Singapore for Taylor Swift to perform six concerts in March has led to diplomatic tensions in the region.

Singapore's deal with Swift is estimated to have brought in $370 million from overseas fans, showcasing significant financial benefits despite the diplomatic fallout.

Thailand is looking to Singapore's strategy as an example, seeking to position itself as a more attractive destination for international events.

Taylor Swift's representative has not provided any comments on the situation.