AUSTRALIA has pledged $AUD312 million over 10 years to Waqa Moana, a Pacific-designed security initiative aimed at tackling transnational organised crime and strengthening maritime security across the region.
Pacific leaders developed Waqa Moana through the Pacific Islands Forum’s regional security discussions and endorsed it as a Pacific-led response to growing transnational organised crime and maritime security challenges.
Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil acknowledged Fiji’s leadership in building regional consensus around the initiative, saying it reflected Pacific leaders’ priorities.
Australia’s investment will support air mobility, aerial surveillance, aviation engagement and regional maritime interdiction efforts.
The funding will also strengthen maritime security cooperation, information sharing and maritime domain awareness across the Pacific, while building Pacific partners’ capacity to detect, deter and disrupt illicit activity at sea.
Khalil said Australia’s contribution would provide practical capabilities to help Pacific partners respond to illicit maritime and transnational criminal activity, while strengthening maritime sovereignty and regional resilience.
The initiative will use existing regional security arrangements to support a coordinated response to shared security challenges.
The investment sits alongside Australia’s existing multi-billion-dollar Pacific Maritime Security Programme.
Australia has supplied 23 Guardian-class patrol boats and three landing craft to 12 Pacific partners, alongside training and support for their safe and effective operation.
Australia and Fiji are also negotiating the possible acquisition of two Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels.
Khalil said the vessels could provide “persistent, long-endurance surveillance”, helping Fiji detect, monitor and respond to illicit activity at sea.
He cautioned that he did not want to get ahead of a live tender, leaving the proposed acquisition subject to that process.
Khalil said the Waqa Moana investment, alongside Australia’s broader maritime security support, represented tangible outcomes from the Australia-Fiji partnership and efforts to build a peaceful, stable and secure Pacific.
