In Geopolitics Today - Thursday, March 10th

Singapore Pursues Military Modernization, Egypt to Cease Agricultural Exports, New Leadership in South Korea Promises Increased Military Spending

Singapore Pursues Military Modernization

The government of Singapore has moved forward with its intention to drastically modernize the country’s military’s capabilities. As part of the military revamp dubbed “SAF 2040,” the city-state is setting up a new wing for its armed forces, which will be dedicated to digital security: the Digital and Intelligence Service. With a push toward incorporating the intelligence and cyber domains within its armed forces, Singapore is aiming to develop an efficient and modernized military that can minimize its vulnerabilities and maximize its strengths.

Citing the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine as his reasoning for expanding military modernization, Singapore’s Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen affirmed the importance of setting up the new digital service which would be able to defend critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. The new Digital and Intelligence Service will be formally set up by the end of 2022, and the service will work to help Singapore deal with digital threats from “external aggressors” that Singapore’s armed forces expect will grow in “numbers, sophistication and organization.” The establishment of a new wing of the armed forces is part of a wider effort by Singapore to acquire and upgrade several existing programs that the country has already undertaken. The city-state’s latest budget confirms this drive, with the Singaporean government proposing a defence budget of an estimated $12 billion for this year 2022, which is an increase of 6.5 percent over the previous year.

Read more about this story here.

Egypt to Cease Agricultural Exports

The Egyptian government has announced a ban on the export of agricultural and other commodities as a potential disruption of food supplies caused by the war in Ukraine threatens Egypt’s food security. Egypt's Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a decree which will mean the suspension of all Egyptian exports of gravel, mixed beans, lentils, wheat, flour and pasta for three months effective on the 11th of March.

Egypt is the world’s top wheat importer, which means that the dramatic rise in the price of bread and other food staples following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a direct threat to internal stability. The global food price index has reached an all-time high in recent days, soaring 24.1 percent above its level the year before, though for Egypt prices for agricultural products are rising above the global food price index, with Cairo currently paying $400 per tonne of wheat, up from $250 last year. With Russia and Ukraine providing roughly 29 percent of the global wheat trade, disruptions in production and exports could send food prices even higher. While Egypt may be most susceptible to such disruptions, it is not the only country which is dependent on importing agricultural goods, with Iraq, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey also major importers of wheat originating in both Russia and Ukraine.

Read more about this story here.

New Leadership in South Korea Promises Increased Military Spending

South Korea has elected a new president — Yoon Suk Yeol — who has openly professed an interest in bolstering ties with the United States while also seeking to increase South Korea’s military capabilities. Yoon will begin his five-year term in May, and has made clear that his government will place the alliance with the United States the centre of his foreign policy.

Following his closely-fought election victory, president-elect Yoon spoke with US President Joe Biden on the phone, who congratulated Yoon and emphasized continuing US commitment to the defence of South Korea, before their conversation turned to a joint declaration seeking to address the threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.” A Yoon presidency will likely be shift away from the previous leadership’s approach to relations with China and the United States, with the outgoing Moon presidency favouring a balanced approach which sought not to antagonize China while also maintaining close ties with the US. Conversely, a Yoon government will likely reinforce ties with Washington and improve relations with Tokyo, while avoiding a closer partnership with Beijing.

Read more about this story here.