Context
Malaysia will host armed forces from 4 nations namely, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom in the annual Bersama Shield 2022 training exercise running through April 1.
About the exercise
- The exercise will involve sea and air drills, mostly in international waters but also in part of Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
- The exercise, referred to as BS22, is conducted within the framework of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA) – a series of bilateral and multilateral defence agreements established in 1971.
- Bersama means together in Malay.
- The FPDA is the oldest defense arrangement in the region and includes counter-piracy operations as well as disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
- The drills have been organised annually since 2004.
- Parts of last year’s edition – called Bersama Gold 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of the FPDA – were held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Live action included anti-air and anti-submarine drills, gunnery firings and maneuvering drills.
- A total of 2,600 personnel, 10 ships, one submarine, six maritime helicopters, three maritime patrol aircraft, 25 fighter aircraft, two support aircraft and one command and control aircraft took part.
