Exercise Bersama Shield down to business

Exercise Bersama Shield is an annual Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) training event.

This year’s exercise is being held within the FPDA exercise area in Malaysia and Singapore between April 27 and May 9 2017.

Approximately 300 Australian Defence Force personnel are participating in the exercise.

Exercise Bersama Shield 17 is a major training exercise, which aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen the professional relationships of FPDA nations through the conduct of combined joint maritime, land and air operations in a multi-threat environment.

FPDA consists of Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are a series of defence relationships established by a series of multi-lateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore (all Commonwealth countries) signed in 1971, whereby the five powers commit to consult each other “immediately” in the event or threat of an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore.

In such an even, members of the FPDA would decide jointly or separately what measures should be taken in response.

There is no specific commitment to military intervention.

FPDA was set up following Britain’s decision to withdraw all military forces east of the Suez Canal.

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