Fisheries, health and an embassy for Vanuatu feature in U.S.-Pacific talks
The White House says a high-level U.S. delegation visit to Pacific Island nations this month was a demonstration of its commitment towards a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific. The visits came amid concerns over
New Zealand may join AUKUS pact’s non-nuclear component
New Zealand’s government has confirmed it is discussing joining the non-nuclear part of the AUKUS alliance founded by Australia, the UK and U.S. “We have been offered the opportunity to talk about whether we could
AUKUS is going against Pacific nuclear free treaty: Forum chair
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair, Mark Brown has joined a growing list of Pacific leaders to object to the US$250 billion nuclear submarine deal between Australia, United Kingdom and the United States
U.S. envoy slams disinformation over Solomons ‘plot’
A White House envoy on Tuesday decried “disinformation and smears” about the United States’ motives in the Solomon Islands, after his meeting with the country’s pro-China leader was overshadowed by
Samoa PM pushes for Pacific voices to be better heard
Samoa’s prime minister says small Pacific nations need to be listened to and consulted more over regional security issues as bigger players crowd the region. In her first official visit to Australia, Fiamē Naomi
Senior U.S. official underscores Solomons-China concerns
A senior White House official on Sunday underlined U.S. concerns about China’s close ties with the Solomon Islands as he began a weeklong tour of Pacific island countries. Kurt Campbell, the U.S. National Security
China urges Japan to heed concerns on water disposal
China urges Japan to take seriously the legitimate concerns of all parties, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, open, transparent and safe manner, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin
Fiji backs AUKUS as Canberra soothes regional tension
One of the Pacific’s key leaders has told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese he supports the AUKUS agreement during a whistle-stop meeting on Wednesday as the PM continued diplomatic efforts to reassure
Australian PM mounts diplomatic blitz to calm AUKUS fears, visit Fiji tomorrow
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on his way home from the United States, capping off a huge diplomatic offensive to calm regional concerns about the AUKUS security pact, and push back against a
Underwater critical infrastructure needs protection
According to recent reports, a Russian spy ship was part of a sabotage operation targeting underwater cables, gas pipelines and wind farms in the North Sea. The vessel was spotted entering Belgian and Dutch
Understanding Fiji’s water problems
The myths around water cuts across Fiji have been debunked after an extensive explanation from the Water Authority of Fiji team during a recent media tour at their Viria operation site. It comes as people
Marape: Chinese stability ensures global economy has a stable outlook
Beijing’s newly appointed special envoy to the Pacific has underlined China’s investment in infrastructure during his first official trip to the region, as Australia and the United States step up efforts to keep
Sea of Western flags in Oceania?
In his recently published article “Sea of many flags”, the Head of the ANU National Security College Rory Medcalf makes the case for why Pacific Island states should regard the deep regional involvement of a Western
Can Washington fund its Pacific pledges?
“We have not been sufficiently engaged at a critical time in the Pacific islands. Not only do the Pacific islands face existential threats like climate change and economic dislocation, but clearly they’re being
Countering China’s Pacific Ambitions
Like empires past, Xi Jinping’s China seeks three grand prizes in the Pacific: wealth, control and presence. Australia and other Pacific nations have recognised the nature and scope of this neocolonial ambition and
Micronesian nations join UN’s demand for Russia to leave Ukraine
Micronesian nations have joined the international community in demanding Russia’s immediate retreat from Ukraine, one year after Moscow’s invasion which resulted in a protracted war that left tens of
Guam, CNMI residents advised to stay vigilant on missile tests
While giving reassurance that North Korea’s latest round of ballistic missile tests posed no immediate threat to Guam and the Northern Marianas, federal and local homeland security officials advised local residents to
Australia scales up security cooperation with Kiribati
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has announced Australia will rapidly scale up security and development cooperation with the sprawling Pacific Island nation of Kiribati as the federal government tries to ensure
Australian government publicise problems with Pacific patrol boats
The Australian government decided to publicly release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships. In previously
U.S. Coast Guard moving cutter to Pacific as regional missions expand
Driven by greater demand for its partnerships and presence in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Coast Guard is growing its operational presence in the vast region that’s unsettled by continuing incursions from
Australia to build Vanuatu’s national security centre
Australia will build a new national security hub for Vanuatu and beef up its economic support for the Pacific island nation’s key sectors. In a joint statement released after a meeting in Canberra, Vanuatu Prime
PNG and Solomon Islands seal policing deal
Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have signed an agreement to formalise the deployment of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) members for policing duties there. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko
French Senate committee questions Indo-Pacific Strategy
The French Senate in Paris has issued a report sharply critiquing France’s official Indo-Pacific Strategy, highlighting the lack of capacity of French military forces deployed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The