FPDA Member-Nations Reaffirm Commitment to the FPDA on its 45th Anniversary

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (centre) hosting breakfast for the Ministers of the Five Power Defence Arrangements member-nations, on the sidelines of the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a breakfast today for the Malaysian Defence Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, New Zealand Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee, the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon and the Australian High Commissioner Philip Green on the sidelines of the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), to commemorate 45 years of the FPDA.

During the meeting, the Defence Ministers and High Commissioner Green reaffirmed their commitment to the FPDA and its importance in the regional security architecture. Dr Ng noted that "The FPDA plays a crucial role in enhancing regional cooperation, which is especially important now to meet the evolving security challenges in the region."

The Defence Ministers and High Commissioner Green also commended the recently concluded Bersama Shield exercise and the significant progress made in enhancing the interoperability among member-nations' militaries through such FPDA exercises.

The Defence Ministers and High Commissioner Green also pledged their continued support for the conduct of professionally valuable exercises.Established in 1971, the FPDA has evolved over the years to meet the changing security needs of the region, including through building its capability in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.