FPDA Planning Larger, Sophisticated Military Drills

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have agreed to organise larger and more complex military drills in Southeast Asia this year. The move will likely emphasise on deepening cooperation into non-conventional aspects, focusing on counter-terrorism, maritime security, humanitarian and disaster relief, along with cyber and drone warfare.

The announcement was made after the FPDA Defence Minister’s Meeting (FDMM) on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The meeting, held every three years was attended by Malaysia’s Defence Minister, Mohamed Khaled, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins, and Britain’s Director General (Security Policy) Paul Wyatt.

According to minister Marles, Australia will be deploying the stealth Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II for the first time for the upcoming Exercise Bersama Lima this year. Besides that, defence minister Collins added that New Zealand would send a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) as well. According to DG Wyatt, the UK has planned to send an aircraft carrier group to the region in 2025 and has discussed fitting prospective exercises with the FPDA into the carrier’s tour of duty.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:Malaysia MOD)