Regional Defence Ties Strengthened
Channel: Royal Australian Navy
Date: 10/05/2017

Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have completed Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise in international waters, off the coast of Malaysia as part of the longest standing multilateral arrangement in South East Asia. Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD was an important opportunity for the Australian Defence Force to strengthen cooperation with other nations.

Major Australian Defence Force assets deployed to the exercise included Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Farncomb and Anzac class frigate HMAS Ballarat. A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and a KA350 King Air tactical mobility aircraft also took part.

The exercise was conducted over four phases, culminating in a practical regional security exercise and post exercise debrief. The Five Power Defence Arrangments were established in 1971 to contribute to regional security.