Royal Navy Completes Bersama Lima 2026 Exercise
Two British offshore patrol vessels concluded a ten-day training operation with regional partners in the South China Sea.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Military
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HMS Spey and HMS Tamar finished the multi-national Bersama Lima 2026 military exercise in the South China Sea this October. The operation involved five nations working together to enhance maritime security and interoperability.
Why it matters
The exercise highlights the ongoing commitment of the UK and its partners to maintaining regional security in the Indo-Pacific. It marks a significant milestone for a defense arrangement that has been in place for over 50 years.
The exercise included a two-day war game and involved ships from five nations under the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Each of the participating Royal Navy River-class vessels carries a crew of approximately 60 sailors.
The players
HMS Spey
This is a Portsmouth-based River-class offshore patrol vessel that has operated in the Indo-Pacific for more than five years.
HMS Tamar
This is a Portsmouth-based River-class offshore patrol vessel that serves as part of the UK's long-term maritime security presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Royal New Zealand Navy
This naval force provided a deployable boarding team to work alongside British personnel during the maritime security training.
The details
Participating forces conducted simulated inspections to combat illegal fishing and narcotics smuggling during the maritime phase. Personnel spent one week aligning equipment and procedures across air, land, and sea domains before the final war game.
Timeline
The Bersama Lima 2026 exercise took place throughout October 2026.
The military exercise concluded on October 23, 2026.
Political Context
This exercise is a direct manifestation of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, an agreement established more than 50 years ago. It functions as a strategic counter-balance to regional security concerns, highlighting the unified stance of the UK, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
The transition of these vessels into independent patrols means a continued, visible British naval presence in Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific waters. Local stakeholders can expect consistent diplomatic and security engagement as HMS Spey and HMS Tamar continue their mission.
The takeaway
The sustained Indo-Pacific presence of these patrol vessels reflects a long-term strategic commitment to regional stability. Observers should track these ongoing maritime security patrols as indicators of British diplomatic and defense priorities in the region.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing naval operations at the Military section.
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