Singapore's Defense Policy

This research explores the ambivalence that surrounds Singapore's post-independence defense policy. On the one hand, Singapore's defense policy has complemented the nation's overall development with its robust efficacy and fiscal efficiency. However, the magnitude of the country's defense expenditure has also led to the occasional raised eyebrow. For example, Singapore's reported defense budget for 2009 was more than that of Malaysia's and Indonesia's put together, which some may find surprising given the relative sizes and populations of these three neighboring countries. This research found that Singapore's decision to pursue a rigorous and generously-funded defense policy paid early dividends by reducing Singapore's initial vulnerability as a newly-independent nation. Since then, the role of Singapore's defense policy has evolved alongside changes in the security environment. Thus, while maintaining a credible deterrence will always remain the raison d'être of Singapore's defense policy, its contemporary manifestation pertains more directly to expanding Singapore's international influence through its synergistic impact on Singapore's economic and diplomatic instruments of national power.