FPDA Defence Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to Five Power Defence Arrangements

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a breakfast today for Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Malaysia Senior Minister of Defence Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, New Zealand Minister of Defence Peeni Henare, and the British High Commissioner to Singapore Kara Owen on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue.

During the breakfast, the Ministers and High Commissioner from the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member nations acknowledged the significant progress made since the FPDA’s inception. They reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to the FPDA, following the commemoration of the FPDA’s 50th anniversary last year. They discussed the important role of the FPDA in building confidence and promoting a rules-based international order. The Ministers and High Commissioner also exchanged views on ways to deepen existing cooperation in conventional defence domains, as well as grow collaboration in non-conventional and emerging domains such as counter-terrorism and maritime security to ensure that the FPDA remains relevant in addressing contemporary security challenges.

The Ministers and High Commissioner acknowledged that FPDA exercises such as Exercise Bersama Shield and Exercise Bersama Lima have enhanced cooperation amongst member-nations’ militaries, and expressed support to continually deepen the professional value of FPDA exercises. The FPDA continues to play a useful role in promoting regional cooperation, and contributes constructively to the regional security architecture through the conduct of regular exercises, dialogues and platforms for professional interactions.