00:00Have you ever looked at a map and noticed this tiny country at the bottom of Malaysia,
00:05surrounded by Indonesia, and wondered how does this country even manage to thrive in this spot?
00:10It's one of the smallest countries in the world, yet one of the richest and most powerful in Asia.
00:16So, how does Singapore manage to thrive between two giant countries?
00:20This is the story of how Singapore thrives between Malaysia and Indonesia,
00:24and the answer might surprise you.
00:26First off, Singapore is really small. It's about the size of New York City, with just over 6 million people.
00:33Compare that to Indonesia's 270 million, or even Malaysia's 34 million, and you can see the difference.
00:41So, what's its secret to it thriving?
00:43It all starts with geography.
00:45Singapore sits right on the Strait of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
00:50It's basically the highway for global trade, connecting the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.
00:55Historically, this is why the British founded modern Singapore in 1819 as a trading hub.
01:01After independence in 1965, Singapore leaned into that role even more.
01:06But geography alone isn't enough.
01:08Singapore built its survival on diplomacy and economics.
01:12It maintains good relations with both Malaysia and Indonesia,
01:16while keeping strong ties to bigger powers like the US and China.
01:20A strategy sometimes called being friends with everyone, enemies with none.
01:25It also turned itself into a financial and business hub.
01:29With strict laws, efficient government, and world-class infrastructure,
01:33Singapore became a safe place for global companies and investors from people around the world.
01:39Singapore has also invested a lot into its education,
01:42and is now home to over 4,000 US companies with educated Singaporeans.
01:47And due to these and other foreign investments, it can thrive.
01:52And militarily, despite its size,
01:54Singapore has one of the best-trained and best-equipped militaries in Southeast Asia,
01:59just in case, making it thrive even more in all aspects.
02:03And it's also partnering with other countries for defense.
02:07For example, Singapore lets the US Navy use its Changi Naval Base.
02:12And Singapore supports US military presence in the region.
02:16They even conduct joint exercises.
02:18And Singapore buys advanced American equipment, like F-35 fighter jets.
02:23So, how does Singapore thrive between Malaysia and Indonesia?
02:27Because it plays to its strengths, geography, trade, diplomacy, and security.
02:32It's not about being the biggest.
02:34It's about being the smartest.
02:36And that's how Singapore thrives between Malaysia and Indonesia.
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