Singapore's security and progress depend on a strong SAF: SM Lee

Republic must continue to stand up for itself, keep defences strong, ready, he says

- Ng Wei Kai

Without a strong armed forces, Singapore would not have experienced the peace and progress that it has had for almost six decades nor enjoyed such stable and friendly relations with its neighbours, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The existence and readiness of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have been a major contributing factor to the country’s peace and stability over the last 60 years, he added.

As a result, the SAF has never had to fight a war to defend Singapore, SM Lee said in a speech on July 26 at a dinner marking SAF Day at the Safti Military Institute.

But the price of peace is eternal vigilance, and SAF servicemen are on guard every day, around the clock – in the air, on land, at sea, and in the digital domain, he said.

Whenever Singapore has needed the SAF, it has always delivered, SM Lee said at the dinner, where he was honoured for his support and contributions to the progress of the SAF and Singapore as prime minister over the last two decades.

He noted that the SAF has conducted deterrence patrols, counter-terrorism operations and security deployments for extraordinary events like the Trump-Kim summit, and proved its mettle in overseas operations.

It has mounted swift and effective responses to regional and international humanitarian crises and disasters, he said.

This includes delivering much needed relief supplies to Banda Aceh in Indonesia after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, and airdropping humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in March 2024.

“Very few other organisations in Singapore have the capability, readiness and resourcefulness to respond to any situation at short notice, and make things happen, like the SAF,” SM Lee said.