5 Powers Plan More Military Drills, Tech Exchange

Drones, sophisticated fighter planes, surveillance aircraft, and possibly even a British aircraft carrier will now play a role in joint exercises.

Malaysian fighter jets taking part in a joint Five Powers Defence Arrangement operation in October 2023. Courtesy of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence

The members of one of the Indo-Pacific’s oldest defence pacts, the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), have agreed to stage more complex military exercises in response to escalating tensions in the region.

The 53-year-old agreement is between Australia, Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It is headquartered at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Penang.