Ministry of Defence (Singapore)


The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the parent ministry of the Singapore Armed Forces.

History

MINDEF, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, was created on 11 August 1970 by splitting up the then Ministry of Interior and Defence.

Responsibilities

MINDEF's mission is to "enhance Singapore's peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor."
It has a policy of Total Defence which consists of Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence, Psychological Defence and Digital Defence involving the people, public and private sectors of the country.

Organisational structure

MINDEF oversees a single statutory board, the Defence Science and Technology Agency. It is also the parent ministry of the Singapore Armed Forces, which is in charge of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Navy, the SAF Military Police Command and the Singapore Army.

Ministers

MINDEF is headed by the Minister for Defence, who is appointed as a member of the Cabinet of Singapore. The position is currently held by Ng Eng Hen.