SINGAPORE: The Five Power Defence Arrangements ( FPDA ) will be expanding cooperation into non- conventional areas, such as counterterrorism, maritime security, humanitarian and disaster relief, as well as cyber and drone warfare.
The FPDA- formed in 1971 against the scenery of military conflict across Southeast Asia- comprises Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who hosted the 12th FPDA Defence Ministers ‘ Meeting at the Conrad Singapore Orchard on Friday ( May 31 ), said the session was “very successful”.
Addressing NON- Regular Problems
Dr. Ng said the officials agreed that the team would work to improve its normal war-fighting capabilities by including more high-end tools to keep it appropriate moving forward.
” On the non- standard, we did debate and deliberate on the need for us to develop capabilities in areas such as terrorism, maritime security, charitable as well as disaster relief. Apart from the conventional hazards, these will be the new places that we will look into, according to Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The class will also be looking into areas like satellite war, according to Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles.
He stated that Australia will take its F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to the upcoming Exercise Bersama Lima, the combined military exercise between the FPDA’s member states, later this month.
” That will be the first time a fifth-generation aviation will fly in Bersama Lima,” he continued.
Judith Collins, the country’s defense minister, added that the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will also be used for the first time in that practice.
Director General for Security Policy of the United Kingdom, Paul Wyatt, also spoke at the meeting, stating that his nation will examine how to integrate its future Carrier Strike Group implementation into the FPDA’s programs.