Q&A: U.S. considering security guarantees for three Pacific Island nations
U.S. Congress is reviewing a proposal from President Joe Biden to create new security guarantees for three Pacific Island states: the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau. If Congress passes the Compacts of Free
Pentagon eyes missile testing role for Australia
Australia could be a testing ground for U.S. hypersonic and other long-range precision weapons under the AUKUS pact, a top Pentagon official told AFP on Wednesday. U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth said
PNG firearms being bought from Jiwaka and Mt Hagen dealers
Three men in Papua New Guinea have been found with unlicensed firearms, ammunition, explosives and other illegal items after a raid was conducted in Western Highlands province last week. The apprehension of the three
Guam Defence system could require 1,000 acres, 700 soldiers
Some 2,000 acres of land, most of it on Department of Defence property, is being analysed for the construction of a new 360-degree missile defence system, DOD officials told members of the Guam media last week. As many
Diplomat says ‘fully-fledged’ embassy in Samoa will offer Paris greater clout
A French diplomat says having an embassy in Samoa will enable France to play a more central role on issues that arise in the Pacific, such as security and climate change. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans
Opinion: The costs of logging in Solomon Islands
In the years following the 1998-2003 ethnic tensions in Solomon Islands, the World Bank assisted the Solomon Islands government in planning a project to support rural communities. This resulted in the Rural Development
PNG, Fiji, Tonga participate in large-scale military exercise in Australia
This year’s military exercise in Australia marked the first-time participation from countries as far away as Germany and by South Pacific countries including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. For the next week,
President Whipps: U.S. radar makes Palau a ‘target’
The U.S. military’s plan to install a warning radar in Palau makes the Pacific country a “target” for potential foreign aggressors, President Surangel Whipps Jr said, stressing that the risk must be worth it. And
Solomon Islands newspaper promised to ‘promote China’ in return for funding: OCCRP
A major newspaper in Solomon Islands received nearly US$140,000 in funding from the Chinese government in return for pledges to “promote the truth about China’s generosity and its true intentions to help develop”
Macron plans a new political statute for New Caledonia
In a major speech in Noumea, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed he would forge ahead to seek changes to the French Constitution in early 2024, to reform voting rights and create a new statute for New Caledonia
Emmanuel Macron denounces ‘new imperialism’ in Pacific on historic visit to Vanuatu
French president Emmanuel Macron has denounced “new imperialism” in the Pacific during a landmark visit to the region, warning of a threat to the sovereignty of smaller states. “There is in the Indo-Pacific and
Opinion: Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of RAMSI in Solomon Islands
A significant milestone in the history of Solomon Islands and the South Pacific was marked this week, on 24 July 2023. It was the 20th anniversary of the start of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
Uludong denies claims on Palau media deal
The publisher of Palau’s Tia Belau newspaper has vehemently denied that a deal with Chinese investors was an “espionage plan… to take over Palau and the rest of the Pacific.” Responding to an article by the
U.S. proposes military training for young civilians in Pacific island countries
Washington is proposing to provide military training to young civilians in Pacific island countries amid growing geopolitical tension in the region. Developing “young civilian defence leaders” in the Pacific islands
Opinion: Geopolitical competition and Solomon Islands: navigating the middle ground
Geopolitical competition can have adverse impact on third-party countries. We are seeing this in Solomon Islands, where domestic political discourses – at least in Honiara and on social media – are dominated by the
Congress prodded to finalise Compact package for freely associated states
Defence officials and territorial delegates have pressed both houses of Congress to tie up the proposed new economic packages under the Compacts of Free Association, noting the freely associated states’ critical role
U.S.-China competition: Blinken heading to NZ, Tonga, Australia
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Pacific this week – his third foray to the region – to discuss security co-operation with New Zealand and Australia. The State Department said Blinken
Failed Palau Media Deal reveals inner workings of China’s Pacific influence effort
For years, Moses Uludong has been a lonely voice pushing the small, strategically located Pacific island nation of Palau towards closer relations with China, says the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries
Pacific Islands nations, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are considering forming defence forces and have discussed the matter with Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday. Security partnerships in the
Palau president says U.S. ‘reactivating’ WWII airstrips in country
The president of Palau said the U.S. military is “reactivating” Palauan airstrips built by the Japanese during World War II, after being asked at a speaking event on Monday if America would have full access to his
RAAF team delivers critical training in Fiji
In a demonstration of dedication and flexibility, a team of instructors from the Royal Australian Air Force School of Administration and Logistics Training (RAAFSALT) was deployed to Fiji to deliver critical training to
Opinion: Pacific treaties must be built with care and nurtured once they’re in place
Security agreements are an increasingly hot topic in the Pacific as Australia, the U.S, China and New Zealand seek broad arrangements across the region. Melanesian countries have attracted the most attention; over the
Australia appoints first special envoy for the Pacific
A new special envoy role will help Australia strengthen its already strong bond with the Pacific, the federal government says. Ewen McDonald, a senior foreign affairs department official, will take on the inaugural role
