International relations involves ties between many countries around the world. Singapore has been a member of the UN since 1965 and has participated in several UN peacekeeping missions and operations. This includes providing medical support to coalition forces during the Gulf War in 1991 and deploying forces to support peace enforcement in East Timor from 1999-2003 after violence erupted there. Maintaining good relations with other countries through organizations like the UN is crucial to Singapore's continued success given its constraints as a small island nation.