As the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) turns 50, what lies ahead for the defence pact?

Come Monday, the world’s second-oldest military pact will turn 50.

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) was formed in 1971 after the British withdrawal east of the Suez Canal, with the primary aim of protecting former colonies Malaysia and Singapore in a region that was fraught with conflict.

The two Southeast Asian countries are grouped with Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and members are obliged to consult one another in the event of an armed attack.

Much has changed since then. Tensions in the region have cooled, Malaysia and Singapore’s military capabilities have grown significantly, and the chances of such threats are slim.

In this new climate, fresh questions over the pact have emerged. What role will it now play and how can it stay relevant amid the formation of headline groupings such as the Aukus agreement between Britain, Australia and the United States?

For one, leaders are bullish that the FPDA still has its value. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a celebratory video marking the golden jubilee that the pact has come far, expanding from traditional security needs to including more contemporary ones. This adaptability, she said, is key to taking on future threats.

In the same video, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the FPDA has provided a valuable security umbrella to Malaysia and Singapore, touting it as an “established and accepted way” for partners to contribute to the region. “Fifty years on, the world and our region have vastly changed. Yet, the FPDA retains its relevance and value,” he added. “I am confident that the Arrangements will remain relevant and effective for many years to come.”