Chan Chun Sing meets counterparts from five-power defence nations, other defence ministers

SINGAPORE – Defence ministers from the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to the grouping’s role in regional security during a meeting hosted by Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on May 31.

Mr Chan hosted breakfast for Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, British Minister of State (Minister for the House of Lords) Vernon Coaker, New Zealand Minister for Defence Judith Collins, and Malaysian Minister of Defence Mohamed Khaled Nordin, which took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue.

At the meeting, a regular feature of the security forum, the ministers commended the grouping’s progress in implementing their nations’ guidance to raise the complexity of FPDA exercises to stay relevant to current security challenges.

The 2024 edition of the FPDA’s

Exercise Bersama Lima (XBL24)

saw the inaugural participation of fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-35 fighter jets from Australia and the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from New Zealand.

“Looking ahead, the ministers look forward to the United Kingdom’s carrier strike group’s participation in XBL25, which would be a milestone achievement for the FPDA, and reaffirm the importance of committing high-end assets to FPDA exercises to enhance their professional value,” said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence in a statement.

The ministers also affirmed the continued strategic relevance of the FPDA as a constructive, transparent and peaceful defence arrangement that supports regional security architecture, the statement added.

Formed in 1971, the FPDA brings together Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the UK in a consultative security framework. The arrangement was established in the wake of British military withdrawal from South-east Asia, providing a platform for defence cooperation and consultation.

Mindef said that the FPDA continues to play a key role in promoting regional cooperation through regular exercises, dialogues and platforms for sharing professional knowledge and experiences.

On May 31, Mr Chan also had a series of bilateral meetings on the forum’s sidelines to reaffirm defence ties with his foreign counterparts.

He met Japanese Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani, and welcomed his return to the security summit. Mr Nakatani had attended the inaugural edition of the forum in 2002.

As country coordinator for Asean-Japan dialogue relations, Mr Chan reiterated Singapore’s commitment to work closely with Japan to enhance regional peace and security, including through the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, or ADMM-Plus, Mindef said.

Both ministers also discussed strengthening defence cooperation to tackle shared challenges, such as through cyber exchanges and enhancing research and collaboration in defence technology.

Later, Mr Chan met Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai and Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang.

At his meeting with Mr Phumtham, both ministers discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest and underscored the importance of strengthening the regional security architecture through platforms like the ADMM and ADMM-Plus, said Mindef.

Mr Chan and General Giang also discussed ways to deepen defence cooperation, following the elevation of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Vietnam to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March.

Mr Chan also met EU Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and the two leaders expressed a joint commitment to continue cooperating in areas of mutual interest.

At their meeting, Mr Chan and New Zealand Minister of Defence Judith Collins reiterated their commitment to deepening defence cooperation, and discussed the importance of upholding the regional rules-based order through continued cooperation under the ADMM-Plus and the FPDA.

Mr Chan also held discussions with Indonesian Vice-Minister of Defence Donny Ermawan Taufanto, and they explored ways to further defence cooperation, building on the

implementation of the Defence Cooperation Agreement

in 2024.

In addition to these bilateral meetings, Mr Chan met Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen and Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans.

He also met two US congressional delegations.

The first delegation was led by Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and included Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, while the second was led by chair of the House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party John Moolenaar, a Republican senator from Michigan, and included Representatives Brian Mast of Florida, a Republican, and Greg Stanton of Arizona, a Democrat.