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By Mihar Dias May 2025
Singapore’s recent Exercise Tiger Balm, conducted in collaboration with the United States Army, highlights a dimension of the city-state’s defence strategy that warrants closer examination.
More than 1,000 troops from both nations executed a series of combat drills over 12 days, with a particular focus on urban warfare scenarios staged at Safti City — a high-tech training facility replicating a densely built urban environment complete with MRT stations, a hotel, a school and shopping malls. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-1000-troops-from-us-army-and-saf-carry-out-exercise-in-urban-warfare
On the surface, this appears to be another chapter in Singapore’s long history of military preparedness.
Since independence, Singapore has maintained a policy of total defence, underpinned by compulsory national service and the continuous modernisation of its armed forces.
Given its geographic realities — a small, densely populated island in a region historically prone to political and security volatility — a capable military has always been regarded as essential to its survival.
Yet the emphasis on urban warfare raises important questions. Why does Singapore feel the need to simulate combat operations in spaces that so closely resemble its own, or those of neighbouring cities?
Historically, Singapore’s military exercises abroad, notably in Taiwan’s jungle terrain, were often framed as preparations for external operations in comparable tropical environments — terrain not unlike that found across Peninsula Malaysia.
While these activities were never officially aimed at any particular country, the geographic similarities were difficult to overlook.
The pivot to urban warfare reflects the evolving character of conflict in the 21st century. Modern warfare is increasingly fought not in open fields or jungles, but within cities where civilian infrastructure and populations complicate military operations.
The inclusion of MRT stations, hotels, and malls in Safti City reflects a pragmatic understanding of Singapore’s own vulnerabilities in the event of an attack or terror incident.
The city-state, acutely aware of its compact geography and critical urban infrastructure, recognises that any conflict involving Singapore would inevitably play out in its streets and public spaces.
However, this urban warfare focus may also reflect a broader strategic calculation. In a region marked by unresolved tensions in the South China Sea, periodic friction among ASEAN members, and the growing influence of external powers, such exercises serve a dual purpose.
They enhance Singapore’s capacity to defend itself, while also quietly preparing contingency operations should regional instability spill into neighbouring capitals or key transit points.
The involvement of US troops and equipment in these exercises underscores Singapore’s longstanding defence ties with Washington, and its desire to remain integrated within the region’s broader security framework.
As a non-aligned but strategically astute nation, Singapore has always balanced its relationships carefully, and its military partnerships are as much about deterrence as they are about operational readiness.
That said, the implications for regional neighbours are not insignificant. While Singapore has every right to maintain and strengthen its military capabilities, its growing emphasis on urban warfare preparedness may be interpreted as cautious hedging against potential regional instability.
It suggests a recognition that future conflicts in Southeast Asia, if they occur, may not be limited to remote border skirmishes, but could involve the control of urban infrastructure and population centres.
As Exercise Tiger Balm marks its 44th iteration, it reaffirms the value of structured military collaboration. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-1000-troops-from-us-army-and-saf-carry-out-exercise-in-urban-warfare
Yet it also invites a broader conversation about the nature of regional security.
In an increasingly urbanised, interconnected, and unpredictable Southeast Asia, the capability to conduct complex operations in cities is no longer optional. It is fast becoming a necessity — whether for defending one’s own streets, or, in less fortunate circumstances, for securing others’.
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