Military Dominion In The South Pacific South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in May 2013 was the first time that Defence Ministers in the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Papua New Guinea – also invited Chile(Easter Island), which is a Pacific country, and also France because of its interest in the Pacific(New Caledonia, French Polynesia), and met formally for the first time. Australia’s continued intent to implement the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP) as a follow‐on to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The PMSP—originally announced at the 2009 Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting—will strengthen and broaden the region’s capacity to secure maritime resources, and will enable greater cooperation between regional states in achieving this goal. To help further enhance cooperation and develop greater interoperability between these militaries, the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement 2012 signed by the States party to the Niue Treaty as a key means to facilitate greater coordination of police and military. A regional aerial surveillance with Pacific Island Countries, utilising existing aviation infrastructure and assets in Pacific Island Countries, that would improve maritime domain awareness and allow regional militaries and police forces to more effectively patrol their respective exclusive economic zones. Short to median haul Heron surveillance drone in service with Australia & New Zealand. Long haul MC-4C Triton maritime surveillance drone entering Australian & New Zealand forces shortly. Maned PC-Orion long haul maritime patrol aircraft in service with Aus. & NZ forces. E-7A Wedgetail air tactical flying command centre. Coordinating land, air and sea assets including maritime surveillance in times of crisis and war. These Australian & New Zealand assets along with the French South Pacific maritime surveillance craft now have the right and are patrolling the 200 Km economic zones of the Nuie Treaty countries including military surveillance. Collectively this defence pact is now the largest military force operating in the South Pacific. The question remains, who are we defending and building a regional military force against?
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 11:42:31 +0000