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Singapore Defence and Security Report Q4 2011
Business Monitor International, Oct 2011, Pages: 79
Singapore’s military recruitment strategy is similar to that of Israel, owing to its small population and relatively high defence requirements. The military relies heavily on conscripts and reservists, advanced weaponry and a core of highly trained, professional active military personnel.
Singapore maintains a number of key bilateral defence relationships, as evidenced by recent events. In early September 2011, United States Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, made an official visit to Singapore, which included a visit to the Changi Command and Control Centre at Changi Naval Base. The two countries signed a Strategic Framework Agreement in 2005, which has led to closer military, technology and policy ties. A recent example is the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise held by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the United States Navy in the second half of August. The exercise sought to develop anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability. The recent Singapore-Bruneian naval exercise, titled Pelican, is another example of Singapore’s well-developed bilateral military relationships. Held in July 2011, it was the 31st annual exercise in its series.
The country has played an active part in anti-piracy activities. In August 2011, SAF deployed a 229 member task group to assist in the international effort against piracy in the Gulf of Aden. The three month deployment, the third of its kind, will involve RSS Endeavour and two Super Puma helicopters. This follows the July return of the SAF Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from their three month deployment in support of the multinational Combined Task Force 151.
BMI believes the political status quo to be broadly maintained following the incumbent People’s Action Party’s re-election in the May general election, translating into stability and continuity in the island state’s highly favourable business environment. That said, the dip in popular vote share to 60.1% this year from 66.6% in the 2006 polls, is a cause for concern. BMI views the rising popularity of the opposition Workers’ Party within the east and north-eastern parts of Singapore as a key challenge to the PAP’s uninterrupted rule since the country proclaimed independence in 1965.
With respect to economic matters, BMI sees Singapore’s economic growth performance as having peaked, with its performance lowering in 2011 and 2012 on the back of a global trade slowdown, as well as tighter exchange rate conditions. This should push headline real GDP growth to 5.9% in 2011, down from the astonishing 14.5% figure recorded in 2010.
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