The RAF in South-East Asia
Six Typhoons in Malaysia 🇲🇾. One Voyager in Singapore 🇸🇬. The RAF has been deployed in South-East Asia on Ex Bersama Lima. This is the latest of the annual Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA) exercises held in Malaysia and Singapore.
This year the RAF deployed six Typhoons to the Royal Malaysian Air Force Butterworth Airbase and one Voyager to the Republic of Singapore Air Force Paya Lebar Air Base.
Ex Bersama Lima is an important contribution that the UK makes as a member of the FPDA to the security of Singapore and Malaysia.
The exercise tests and demonstrates the RAF’s ability to react quickly and promptly to regional security threats.
The UK is committed to the continuance of FPDA, whilst updating its relevance and providing reassurance to its members, near neighbours and the wider world.
UK membership of the FPDA provides a tangible demonstration of the UK’s continuing commitment to the security of South-East Asia.
But what is the FPDA…?
Five Powers Defence Arrangements (FPDA), is is a non-threating, defensive arrangement and the UK is keen to reassure the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) neighbours of Singapore and Malaysia that the FPDA will remain so.
The five powers are;
- Australia 🇦🇺
- New Zealand 🇳🇿
- Singapore 🇸🇬
- Malaysia 🇲🇾
- United Kingdom 🇬🇧
In the event of a threat of an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore, the five powers will consult quickly for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken. Under this agreement, there is no specific commitment to intervene militarily.
This remains the only multinational defence structure in the South-East Asia region.
The UK enjoys a close and historic bilateral relationship with Singapore.
Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here:
