FPDA Defence Ministers reaffirm commitment to cooperation

By Massita Ahmad

SINGAPORE, June 11 (Bernama) --  The member states of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) today reaffirmed their nations’ commitment to the Arrangement, following the commemoration of its 50th anniversary last year, said Singapore’s Defence Ministry (Mindef).

According to the ministry, the republic’s Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a breakfast today for Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Malaysia’s Senior Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, New Zealand’s Defence Minister 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 FPDA member nations acknowledged the significant progress made since the FPDA’s inception, said Mindef in a statement issued here.

“They discussed the important role of the FPDA in building confidence and promoting a rules-based international order,” it added.

Mindef said 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.

They 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,” said the ministry.

-- BERNAMA