Singapore raises defense spending in 2026

Singapore’s defense chief has announced the government planned to raise its defense spending this year to $19.7 billion, a 6.4 percent increase from last year, to boost its capabilities.

Photo by Jiachen Lin on Unsplash

Manuel Mogato | February 28, 2026

Singapore — Singapore’s defense chief has announced the government planned to raise its defense spending this year to $19.7 billion, a 6.4 percent increase from last year, to boost its capabilities.

Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing has told lawmakers that the Southeast Asian state needs a strong, capable defense to secure its national interests amid a worsening, uncertain geopolitical climate.

Chan said the rules that once restrained behavior are being tested and, in some cases, deliberately ignored, without naming countries.

“Going forward, I expect the growth in defense spending to keep pace with GDP, barring major shocks,” the defense minister told parliament. “However, if the need arises, we are prepared to spend more.”

Chan said Singapore has been navigating a more volatile regional landscape, with persistent friction in the disputed South China Sea and heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Singapore planned to acquire three Gulfstream G550 maritime surveillance aircraft to replace the aging Fokker 50 fleet, which has been in service since 1993. The new aircraft comes after the acquisition of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.