Ensuring National Security Today Includes Tackling Domestic Discontent, Building Cohesion: Vivian

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan emphasized that modern national security must extend beyond traditional military defence to address domestic political discontent, technological disruption and geopolitical fragmentation. Speaking at the opening of the 17th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO) on April 21, 2026, he warned that interdependence—once a source of prosperity—has been weaponised in an era of rising volatility.

Domestic Discontent Drives Repudiation of Globalisation

Balakrishnan identified domestic political discontent as the primary driver behind the global repudiation of globalisation. He stated that this inward turn has transformed economic interdependence—particularly through trade liberalisation, global supply chains, and economic integration—from a force for peace and prosperity into a tool of strategic coercion.

“The central idea which I aim for to leave with you, first, is that it is domestic political discontent that has driven this repudiation of globalisation,” he said during his address at the Paradox Hotel in Clarke Quay.

Technology Accelerates Disruptive Changes

The Foreign Minister highlighted that simultaneous technological revolutions in digital technologies, energy, and biotechnology are amplifying these disruptive trends. He noted that advancements in artificial intelligence and frontier technologies have further exacerbated geopolitical fragmentation and increased unpredictability in the international system.

“The third point which I wanted to leave with you is that the simultaneous technological revolutions… in fact, accelerate these disruptive changes,” Balakrishnan explained.

National Security Must Expand Beyond Traditional Defence

Balakrishnan argued that national security can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of conventional defence. Instead, it must encompass resilience across internal, external, and institutional fronts. This includes managing risks in domains such as supply chains, public health, and emerging technologies.

“We have to avoid getting caught in a vicious cycle. We have to take the concept of national security in a far broader sense, work across silos, understand politics, economics, technology, defence in the broader sense of the word,” he told more than 70 national security officials, experts, and scholars from 21 countries attending the week-long conference organised by the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Building Cohesion Is Essential to National Resilience

In response to these challenges, Balakrishnan stressed that governments must actively build social cohesion and strengthen internal resilience. He urged national security practitioners to move beyond traditional defence planning and engage with the political, economic, and technological dimensions of security.

The Strait of Hormuz was cited as a current example of a geopolitical chokepoint where supply chain disruptions pose real and immediate risks—indicative of future conflicts over critical maritime routes.

As global volatility increases, the work of national security will continue to expand, a lesson underscored by the experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Minister.

Key Takeaways

• Domestic political discontent is a major factor driving the rejection of globalisation worldwide.
• Economic interdependence has been weaponised, turning trade and supply chains into sources of strategic vulnerability.
• Technological advancements in AI, digital systems, energy, and biotech are accelerating geopolitical instability.
• National security must now include internal cohesion, institutional resilience, and cross-domain risk management.
• Traditional defence-focused approaches are insufficient in today’s volatile and interconnected threat environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)?

APPSNO is an annual conference organised by the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. It brings together national security officials, experts, and scholars from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss evolving security challenges.

Why does Vivian Balakrishnan say interdependence has been weaponised?

He argues that while globalisation once promoted peace through economic integration, rising domestic discontent has led countries to repudiate open systems and instead use interdependence—such as control over supply chains or access to technology—as a tool of coercion and strategic pressure.

What domains does Balakrishnan say are now part of national security?

He identifies frontier technologies, supply chains, public health, and internal cohesion as critical domains that must be integrated into national security planning, moving beyond a narrow focus on military defence.