Singapore Defence and Security Report Q3 2009

Singapore, with its small population base, has concentrated spending on sophisticated and superiorweapons systems. As a consequence, it has one of the largest defence budgets in the Asia Pacific region -over 4% of GDP. It has maintained high levels of spending despite being the first Asian economy to slipinto recession, which is expected to worsen over 2009. The principal recent development affecting thefuture of Singapore’s defence spending is the recent rapid deterioration in economic conditions.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean has previously announcedthat defence spending will amount to US$11.4bn, or 6% of GDP, in 2009. As a percentage of GDP, thisamounts to one of the biggest defence budgets in recent history. Teo stressed the importance ofmaintaining military spending, noting that threats do not diminish but, rather, often emerge during testingeconomic times, owing to increased social and political frictions. He noted several factors that hadenabled Singapore to build up its defence capability over time: careful spending; sourcing and upgradingsecond-hand equipment; an ongoing maintenance regime; and investment into research and development.

In February 2009, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) announced it will participate in a US-led task forcein the Gulf of Aden designed to target pirates operating in the Gulf and adjacent waterways. Singaporewill supply a landing ship tank, two helicopters and two-hundred personnel. Joining an internationalflotilla comprising some forty-five warships from Europe, China and Malaysia, the SAF deployment willhelp to escort vessels traversing the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and the Gulf.

Teo said on June 3 2009 that Singapore was prepared to deploy a weapon locating radar (WLR) team tocentral Afghanistan, according to local media. The WLR team will be deployed to Tarin Kowt in Oruzganprovince in Afghanistan, and will provide early warning of rocket attacks and enhance force protectionmeasures of the International Security Assistance Force personnel deployed in the base there.

Teo said this was in view of increased rocket attacks in Afghanistan, adding that multinational peacesupport initiatives will continue to be an important aspect of the SAF operations.

Speaking at an overseas medal presentation ceremony, he said that if the deployment of the radar isconsidered useful, the WLR detachment can be deployed for between nine and 12 months from the latterpart of this year, according to the report.

Singapore hosted the annual Asia Security Summit, organised by the London International Institute forStrategic Studies from May 29-31, bringing together about 22 ministerial-level guests, along withparliamentarians, military leaders and security experts from more than 27 countries and regions fordiscussions on regional security issues and defence cooperation.

Teo told the forum that military transparency plays a crucial role in avoiding misunderstandings andincreasing trust and confidence for the Asia-Pacific. Military transparency, he said, ‘is not an end in itselfbut a means to peace and stability’, adding it needs to operate at three levels, namely disclosurearmaments and arsenals, statements of strategic intent, cooperative and inclusive action.Singapore and Australia signed the new Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) Memorandum ofAgreement (MOA) at the summit. The new MOA allows the SAF to continue training at the SWBTAuntil 2019. The vast and challenging terrain at the SWBTA enables the SAF to ensure its operationalreadiness through tough and realistic training.

This quarter, we have introduced a significant new aspect to BMI's Defence reports, which is the CityTerrorism Rating (CTR). This assesses the risk of a terrorist attack. The CTR takes into account theoverall BMI Terrorism Rating for the country in question. It also incorporates the ‘prevalence’ ofterrorism, which recognises the frequency of attacks, and whether the city is a target for terrorists. TheCTR also recognises the ‘threat’ of terrorism in terms of the likely numbers of victims and the ability ofgroups to launch sustained campaigns.

These City-Specific Ratings are created via an integration of the state-wide threat, with an evaluation ofthe city-specific characteristics and level of activity.