Fifth FPDA Professional Forum opens up in Singapore today

The Fifth Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Professional Forum, jointly hosted by Singapore and the UK, opened up here today with more than 70 senior officials from the member states participating, Singapore Defence Ministry said.

The defence chiefs from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, will discuss various issues including military participation in humanitarian missions and training for peace support operations in the forum themed ''Military Operations Other Than War''. The four-day forum will end on Friday.

The FPDA Professional Forum is an important event in the calendar of FPDA exercises and activities, said the ministry in a statement.

The FPDA regularly conducts joint exercises involving air, maritime and land forces, as well as training programmes, seminars and forums. Through such forums and meetings, the FPDA serves as a platform for dialogue and exchange of views on professional military and security issues among the FPDA Defence Ministers and senior defence officials, it said.

Formed in 1971 as a consultative arrangement, the FPDA has become an integral part of the regional security architecture.

The Ministry stressed the FPDA remains relevant in the changing strategic environment. Since 2004, the FPDA has broadened its capacity to address non-conventional threats, as in the area of maritime security.

The FPDA Defence Ministers in June endorsed that the FPDA explores ways to build capacity and enhance inter-operability in the area of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

The forum is being attended by Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, Group Captain Chris Henwood, United Kingdom, Brigadier Brian Dawson, Commandant Australian Defence Force Academy, Australia, Rear Admiral Dato' Hj Mohammed Noordin bin Ali, Assistant Chief of Staff (Defence Operations and Training), Malaysian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Rhys Jones, Assistant Chief Development, New Zealand Defence Force, and Air Vice Marshal Greg Evans, Commander Integrated Area Defence Systems, who is from the Australian Defence Force.

The FPDA Professional Forum is a biennial event that involves senior officers responsible for joint operations, training and doctrines from the FPDA countries. It was first held in 1997, following a directive by the fourth FPDA Defence Chiefs’ Conference that the FPDA increase the level of professional exchanges and inter-operability amongst its members.

Apart from providing the opportunity for senior officers to interact and exchange professional views, the Forum also promotes a culture of cross learning in the FPDA, thereby enhancing inter- operability among the FPDA armed forces.

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