TUVALU has increased its coastal patrol facilities as Pacific countries battle with protection of their porous borders against a surge in drug trafficking.
Prime Minister Feleti Teo said the boat would support maritime security, resilience, and sustainable development .
“The inshore patrol vessel will greatly strengthen Tuvalu’s national capacity to safeguard our waters, enforce our laws, and protect our resources for future generations,” Teo said.
The patrol boat was a gift facilitated by the Japanese government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Leaders from Tuvalu and Japan emphasised that this contribution reflected a deep, enduring partnership built on mutual trust and regional cooperation.
“This vessel will enhance Tuvalu’s ability to patrol its coastal waters, deter illegal activities, and respond swiftly and safely to incidents at sea,” Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Tajima said.
“This event signifies the enduring partnership and solidarity that Tuvalu embraces with UNODC and the Government of Japan.”
