The Defence Chiefs of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member-nations convened at Park Royal Collection Hotel, Marina Bay, Singapore, for the 21st FPDA Defence Chiefs' Conference (FDCC) hosted by Singapore. The FDCC, which is hosted alternately by Malaysia and Singapore, is the highest professional military forum of the FPDA and serves as the key platform for dialogue and exchange of views among the Defence Chiefs. Malaysia hosted the last FDCC virtually in 2021, in conjunction with the 50th FPDA Anniversary celebration.

The 21st FDCC, which was chaired by Singapore's Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, was attended by Malaysia's Chief of Army General Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, New Zealand's CDF Air Marshal Kevin Short, Australia's Vice CDF Vice Admiral David Johnston, and United Kingdom's Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Gwyn Jenkins.

During the conference, the Defence Chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to the FPDA and its founding principles. They also emphasised the importance of the FPDA as a constructive, transparent and peaceful arrangement which has been an integral part of the regional security architecture for over 50 years. As the FPDA continues to enhance the professional value of conventional exercises, it will also build capacity in other areas including counter-terrorism, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and cyber and information to keep pace with the evolving security challenges.

The Defence Chiefs also acknowledged that the global health situation had abated since the last FDCC. This had allowed FPDA nations to embark on a gradual resumption of exercises and activities. The Defence Chiefs commended the successful conduct of Exercises Bersama Gold 2021 and Bersama Shield 2022.

During the conference, the Defence Chiefs issued the FPDA Exercise Concept Directive 2022 and discussed the five-year roadmap for the FPDA's development. The FPDA Exercise Concept Directive 2022 reiterated interoperability and conventional proficiency of air, maritime and land forces, as the primary focus of FPDA exercises. The five-year roadmap will guide the development of FPDA exercises and activities, with the aim of further enhancing the FPDA's capacity in conducting conventional and non-conventional operations, and to further strengthen interoperability and interactions among the armed forces of the five member-nations of the FPDA. The Chiefs were also briefed by the Commander of Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS) Air Vice Marshal Geoffrey Harland on the prominent matters pertaining to the HQIADS' developments and exercise conduct.

Following the conference, the Defence Chiefs were hosted to lunch by Singapore's Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen today. They will also observe the opening ceremony of Exercise SUMAN Protector 2022 at Changi Naval Base tomorrow. The exercise is the culminating exercise of the five-year FPDA training cycle and will involve 261 personnel from all five member nations and HQIADS.