FPDA Defence Chiefs Commemorate 50 Years of the FPDA

Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong (First row, second from left) joining the Defence Chiefs from FPDA member-nations at the FPDA50 Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony via video teleconference this afternoon.

The Defence Chiefs of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member-nations attended a ceremony via video teleconference this afternoon to commemorate 50 years of the FPDA. The FPDA was formalised on 1 November 1971, and the FPDA 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony today falls on the actual anniversary date. The commemoration ceremony was attended by Australia's Chief of Defence Force (CDF) General Angus J. Campbell, Malaysia's COA General Tan Sri Dato' Zamrose bin Mohd Zain, New Zealand's CDF Air Marshal Kevin Short, Singapore's CDF Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong Su Kiat, and the United Kingdom's Vice Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tim Fraser.

At the commemoration ceremony, Commander Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS) Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Harland and the Defence Chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to the FPDA. They also emphasised the role of the five member-nations' militaries in supporting the FPDA through the past 50 years via their active participation in professional exchanges, training workshops and exercises. This enabled the FPDA to promote regional cooperation and contribute constructively to the regional security architecture. LG Ong said, "We have progressed from small-scale, single-Service exercises, to high-end Joint-integrated exercises that have provided excellent opportunities for our militaries to learn from one another, build friendships, and deepen our people-to-people ties. I am confident that the FPDA will continue to grow to greater heights in the coming decades."

To mark the anniversary, the FPDA 50th Anniversary Commemoration Plaque and the new HQIADS flag were unveiled at the ceremony, and a set of commemorative stamps was officially launched by Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) today. An extended version of the FPDA 50th Anniversary Video was also screened at the virtual ceremony. The video included reflections on the significance of the FPDA from former and current officials, as well as commanders of various FPDA exercises.

CDF LG Melvyn Ong delivering his remarks at the FPDA 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony.