Pacific plans taskforce

Aust to form part of ‘taskforce’ set to stir regional controversy SYDNEY: South Pacific defence ministers want to transform a military disaster response group into a taskforce that could also conduct Pacific “stabilisation” missions, in a move that could stir controversy in the region. The shift, which was flagged at last week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in Chile, would mark an ambitious expansion of the Pacific Response Group’s remit (PRG) just a year after it was created to help respond to humanitarian catastrophes. In a joint statement, the ministers said they had asked their defence chiefs to “explore options to broaden the mandate” of the group to “include stabilisation operations, including any necessary legal frameworks”, which they called a “natural evolution” of the body. The ministers also discussed a proposed Status of Forces Agreement between SPDMM members, covering immigration, customs and logistical support for deployments — enabling troops to operate more freely across each other’s territories. The joint communique also says the member countries will “explore options” to establish a “PRG-focused” military exercise with the first slated to be hosted by Chile in 2027–28, as well as embedding a defence adviser from one of the nations into the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. The PRG brings together the militaries of Australia, Chile, France and New Zealand, as well as the three Pacific island nations with standing militaries — Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States also sent observers to the meeting in the beachside city of Vina del Mar. None of the ministers mentioned China during their press conference after the meeting, but the federal government is signalling that it is part of a broader push to build security capabilities in the region, while blocking Beijing from any role in regional crises that draw a military response. A defence official from one of the SPDMM countries said the initiative would help bolster “Pacific-led” security frameworks and make it harder for “authoritarian” countries to make inroads in the Pacific. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Chile that there was “growing geo-strategic contest” in the region and that democracies needed to take the lead on Pacific security. – Abc

Aust to form part of ‘taskforce’ set to stir regional controversy

SYDNEY: South Pacific defence ministers want to transform a military disaster response group into a taskforce that could also conduct Pacific “stabilisation” missions, in a move that could stir controversy in the region.

The shift, which was flagged at last week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) in Chile, would mark an ambitious expansion of the Pacific Response Group’s remit (PRG) just a year after it was created to help respond to humanitarian catastrophes.

In a joint statement, the ministers said they had asked their defence chiefs to “explore options to broaden the mandate” of the group to “include stabilisation operations, including any necessary legal frameworks”, which they called a “natural evolution” of the body.

The ministers also discussed a proposed Status of Forces Agreement between SPDMM members, covering immigration, customs and logistical support for deployments — enabling troops to operate more freely across each other’s territories.

The joint communique also says the member countries will “explore options” to establish a “PRG-focused” military exercise with the first slated to be hosted by Chile in 2027–28, as well as embedding a defence adviser from one of the nations into the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The PRG brings together the militaries of Australia, Chile, France and New Zealand, as well as the three Pacific island nations with standing militaries — Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga.

The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States also sent observers to the meeting in the beachside city of Vina del Mar.

None of the ministers mentioned China during their press conference after the meeting, but the federal government is signalling that it is part of a broader push to build security capabilities in the region, while blocking Beijing from any role in regional crises that draw a military response.

A defence official from one of the SPDMM countries said the initiative would help bolster “Pacific-led” security frameworks and make it harder for “authoritarian” countries to make inroads in the Pacific.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Chile that there was “growing geo-strategic contest” in the region and that democracies needed to take the lead on Pacific security. – Abc