Budget 2026: S'pore expects security

Singapore will also strengthen its collective cyber defence by deepening partnerships with industry.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Follow our live coverage of Budget 2026 here.

Follow our live coverage of Budget 2026 here.

SINGAPORE - Singapore expects its security-related expenditures to rise in the coming years, as it strives to keep itself safe and secure in a more dangerous world.

The city-state will also strengthen its collective cyber defence by deepening partnerships with industry, at a time when the digital domain has become an increasingly contested arena, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 12.

In his Budget speech , PM Wong said Singapore is keeping its defence spending at around 3 per cent of its GDP for now, but is prepared to spend more if the need arises.

While the world has never been free of conflict, there have been 61 state-based armed conflicts in 2024 - the highest recorded since World War 2, he noted.

These conflicts included one of the most serious clashes involving Asean member states in years, when a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into an open military confrontation that led to civilian casualties.

a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia

These developments are deeply troubling, said PM Wong. “They reflect a shrinking space for negotiation, a greater willingness to use force, and a higher risk of miscalculation - with consequences that can easily spill across borders.”

Recent conflicts have also underscored the changing nature of warfare, he added. Unmanned aerial systems are now a common feature, used not only for surveillance, but also for precision strikes, electronic warfare and coordinated operations.

“Drones are cheaper, more accessible, and increasingly sophisticated, allowing even smaller actors to project force in new ways,” he said.

PM Wong said Singapore will study these developments carefully, and invest decisively in capabilities that are essential to its defence.

“That includes strengthening our ability to deploy, counter, and operate alongside unmanned systems across all domains,” he added.

On the digital front, PM Wong said Singapore has seen a sharp rise in cyber attacks by both state- and non-state actors.

These range from scams targeting individuals to highly sophisticated attacks on critical information systems.

“Singapore is an attractive target. We have faced attacks from malicious cyber actors, including hostile information campaigns and deliberate attempts to undermine our national security,” said PM Wong.

On Feb 9, the authorities had revealed that Singapore’s four major telcos had come under attack by advanced persistent threat actor UNC3886 . This was answered by Operation Cyber Guardian, a multi-agency effort that involved more than 100 cyberdefenders from six government agencies.

Singapore’s four major telcos had come under attack

PM Wong said on Feb 12 that the Republic has strengthened its digital defences over the years, such as with the establishment of the Cyber Security Agency and the Digital and Intelligence Service in the SAF, as well as the building of expertise within the Team Science and Technology Agency.

“These efforts have enabled us to detect, disrupt, and fend off many attacks. But the threat landscape continues to evolve - with attacks becoming more frequent, more coordinated, and more sophisticated,” he said.

Singapore will therefore continue to strengthen its cybersecurity posture by deepening capabilities, improving coordination across agencies, and better safeguarding its most critical systems.

With attackers often exploiting smaller or less-protected companies as weak links to gain access to larger systems and cause widespread disruption, the Government will also work more closely with industry, especially owners of critical information systems.

“All this underscores the importance of sustained investment in our security,” he said.

PM Wong said history has taught the city-state a hard lesson - that it is alone is responsible for its defence and survival.

That is why, since independence, the country has invested steadily to safeguard its peace and security, allowing it to build credible and strong capabilities in both the Singapore Armed Forces and the Team.

“Importantly, our security effort goes beyond Mindef alone - it also includes investments in the security of the city-state’s critical infrastructure and in the Team,” he said.

“Taken together, we expect our security-related expenditures to rise in the coming years - to keep Singapore safe and secure in a far more complex threat environment.”