Budget 2026: Defense spending holds at 3% of GDP as cyberattacks rise

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says the government is prepared to spend more if needed.

Singapore plans to strengthen its defence to counter and operate alongside unmanned systems across all domains.

The digital domain has also become a key area of concern. Cyberattacks, ranging from scams to sophisticated attacks on political information systems, have increased in frequency and coordination.

“We are seeing a sharp rise in attacks by both state-sponsored and non-state actors in cyberspace,” Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the Singapore Budget 2026.

“They range from scams targeting individuals to highly sophisticated attacks on political information systems. Singapore is an attractive target,” Wong added.

The government has responded by establishing the Cybersecurity Agency, enhancing expertise in the Home Team and Science and Technology Agency, and creating the Digital and Intelligence Service within the SAF. 

Efforts will continue to deepen capabilities, improve coordination, and protect critical systems.

Wong said that cybersecurity extends beyond government systems. Many private sector companies provide essential services and are vulnerable to attacks, often exploited as entry points to larger systems. 

Singapore will strengthen partnerships with industry, particularly owners of critical information systems, to enhance collective cybersecurity.

“For now, we expect to keep defence spending at about 3% of GDP, but we are prepared to spend more if the need arises,” Wong said.