‘Not business as usual’: Geopolitical shocks mean S’pore must be prepared for troubled times ahead, says Ng Eng Hen

Recent world events have resulted in a "geopolitical earthquake with potentially serious, if not grave, security implications", and this means it is "not business as usual" for the security of a small country such as Singapore, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday (June 30) in his annual interview on the eve of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Day, Dr Ng also outlined how the country should respond in the face of a "toxic milieu", with supply chain disruptions and inflation exacerbating "heightened security risks".  

“Entrenched foundations have been shaken and assumptions about the world and region we live in — that we have accepted and taken almost for granted — are now tested,” he said.

“I think in the months ahead, these geopolitical tectonic plates will shift further and may result in dramatic changes. As a small country, Singapore — particularly — must remain watchful and nimble.”

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (Mindef) and SAF must be vigilant and make use of the current peace to strengthen the country’s defence, Dr Ng said.

One way is through defence diplomacy.