Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing has called for a shift in the nation’s strategic mindset, urging the country to focus on doing better things rather than simply improving how it does existing tasks. Speaking at the Ministry of Defence’s IGNITE Innovation Symposium 2026, Mr. Chan highlighted that relying on past successes is a dangerous assumption in an era of rapid global change. He emphasized that the Singapore Armed Forces and the broader nation must prioritize resilience, redundancy, and the development of new operational concepts to navigate an increasingly unpredictable security landscape.
The minister’s remarks underscore a broader government push to move beyond incremental improvements. By focusing on doing better things, Singapore aims to address emerging threats that do not mirror the challenges of the past. This approach involves diversifying supply chains and building flexible, issue-based partnerships with like-minded nations to complement traditional multilateral frameworks. Mr. Chan noted that as the global rules-based order faces strain, smaller states must proactively build real capabilities to remain relevant and secure.
For the public and national institutions, this shift suggests a move toward more adaptive policy-making. The government is encouraging a culture that values innovation over complacency, warning that failing to prepare for a wider range of scenarios could lead to significant vulnerabilities. This strategy is not limited to military defense but extends to protecting critical infrastructure, such as energy and water systems, against modern, non-traditional threats.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on how these principles are integrated into daily operations across various sectors. The government remains committed to maintaining international norms while simultaneously preparing for a more transactional and self-interested global environment. The practical impact for Singaporeans will likely be a continued emphasis on national cohesion and the development of specialized skills to meet the demands of a changing world.