The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member-nations participated in a flypast and naval vessel display to commemorate the FPDA's 50th anniversary this afternoon. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted the High Commissioners of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom at Marina Barrage, where they watched the flypast and naval display together.

The event also marks the successful conclusion of Exercise Bersama Gold 2021, the keynote exercise of the FPDA's 50th Anniversary and the first physical FPDA exercise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exercise, which involved about 2,600 personnel, featured a contactless air and maritime Field Training Exercise, and a virtual jungle warfare workshop.

Reflecting on the significance of the FPDA, Dr Ng said, "the FPDA remains relevant and I am very happy that we can mark the occasion of this golden anniversary with this Exercise Bersama Gold, as well as this flypast and naval display. I think it reflects the strong commitment that the five partner nations continue to give it. It also reiterates our posture of being non-threatening, not directed at any one country, but as a regional grouping that promotes inclusiveness and cooperation among the nations…thank you to the five partner nations and to the militaries, and I look forward to many more years of cooperation and collaboration, and the deepening of our defence ties."

Since the FPDA's formation in 1971, the FPDA has evolved over the years to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex contemporary security environment, while remaining as a defensive, inclusive and peaceful security arrangement. The FPDA marks its 50th Anniversary this year with a line-up of events and activities. Following the conclusion of Exercise Bersama Gold, Dr Ng will be attending the 11th FPDA Defence Ministers' Meeting that will be held via video teleconference on 21 Oct 2021.