Singapore cannot control global events, but it can strengthen its own resilience, said Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing. Using Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s analogy of Singapore as a “small speedboat in an open sea”, Mr Chan said domestic confidence and cohesion are essential for effective international engagement. Delivering his statement at a plenary session at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr Chan stressed that lasting solutions require countries to address their own