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This shows how seriously Singapore takes its ability to defend itself. We are barely spending 1% of GDP on defence and Singapore is almost spending 3% of GDP. If we don’t want to rely on others, we need to do more ourselves.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
3 comments:
Singapore is closely surrounded by potential enemies. They need a determined and capable military defence. On the other hand, NZ’s enemies are all internal. How should we deal with that?
This article (? no, it isn't) is half-baked. We have two themes here: defence alliances with the US and expenditure on arms. It would be useful if these themes were related to one another.
Dear David Farrar.
Singapore, land locked, learnt a lesson at the commencement of WW2 when the Japanese Army marched down the Malaya Peninsular, the British Army 'who had control of the situation' with all coastal guns pointing seaward and very quickly surrendered because of an inept approach to defense.
Since then their per capita $ spend has been equated to that of Switzerland, who has never been invaded, but have a Military establishment that is unprecedented (not only Military [Air & ground] forces on active duty, but a reserve element [who take their rifles home], as well).
Thus since WW2, Singapore have developed Military relationships with those Countries around them, and NZ - to whom this Country hosted a Singapore Army Unit for annual exercises, with NZ Army at Waiouru. The array of equipment brought to NZ for those exercises was impressive.
We hope that relationship will continue.
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