Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 78 of his department’s Strategic Defence Review, published 2 June 2025, what progress has been made on investing in the Five Powers Defence Arrangements to promote interoperability in the region.

The Government continues to invest in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) to promote interoperability in the Indo-Pacific through regular exercises and defence engagement. Immediately following SDR25, the UK Carrier Strike Group's participation marked the most ambitious FPDA exercise in nearly three decades, which strengthened cooperation and interoperability between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. Continued annual investment into the BERSAMA LIMA exercise, with elements from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Army further promotes interoperability. In 2027 the UK will serve as the Assisting Nation for the planning of Ex SUMAN PROTECTOR, the FPDA five-yearly flagship exercise.