FPDA Defence Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (centre) hosting a breakfast for the Ministers of the Five Power Defence Arrangements on the sidelines of the 18th Shangri-La Dialogue.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a meeting today for Australia Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, Malaysia Minister of Defence Mohamad Sabu, New Zealand Minister of Defence Ron Mark, and United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt on the sidelines of the 18th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD).
 
During the meeting, the Ministers reaffirmed their nations' commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and its importance as a constructive, transparent, and peaceful arrangement in the region. The Ministers also took stock of the ongoing work to ensure that the FPDA remains relevant in the lead-up to the FPDA's 50th Anniversary in 2021, including in areas such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
 
The Ministers noted that significant progress has been made in enhancing the inter-operability among member-nations' militaries through FPDA exercises such as Exercise Bersama Shield and Exercise Bersama Lima, and expressed support for efforts to continually enhance the professional value of FPDA exercises.