Quora Answer: Why Did Singapore Use Gurkhas to Secure the Kim-Trump Summit instead of the SAF?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Why did Singapore use Gurkhas to secure the Kim-Trump summit, instead of the SAF?”

In reality, the Gurkha Contingent is the most obvious and public unit used to secure the venue.  They are a tiny cog in a vast security apparatus.  They are newsworthy because they are unusual, and they take attention away from the various specialist teams that work best in the shadows.  There are hundreds of specialist teams, including the entire intelligence apparatus that will be mobilised to secure the venue.  The work goes beyond just having guards at the place dignitaries meet, or stay.  People are deployed at points of entry into the country, and personnel are sent to certain other nations to coordinate with their native intelligence agencies.

In addition to the Army and the Home Team, the Navy and Air Force are deployed.  They look out for everything from hijacked supertankers, to civilian aircraft turned into suicide bombs.  There will be sniper teams, specialist units to clear the routes of potential IEDs, and observer teams.  There are command centres that collate and analyse all feeds, one based near the venue, and one in a bunker.

One of the reasons why Singapore gets chosen for these events is because the operational security team is experienced and efficient.  This can be seen in the fact that hundreds are picked up in sweeps, and hundreds more denied entry, and hardly any of this makes it into the news.