Forum: A small country like Singapore cannot rely on goodwill alone to stay safe

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When everything else breaks down, defence is the final insurance policy a country has.

Many of us believe strongly in international law, diplomacy and global cooperation. These ideals matter, and they should continue to guide how nations behave. But we should not kid ourselves. When interests collide and rules are stretched or ignored, military strength still decides what a country can protect and what it cannot.

Singapore has made a clear and deliberate choice to spend the most on defence in its national budget, over $23 billion or 3 per cent of gross domestic product. 

Defence is about ensuring that peace remains the most rational choice.

Qn: Examine the extent to which expenditure on arms and the armed forces is justified in the modern world. (Cam. 2014)