Political instability in the Pacific isn’t significantly increasing. It just feels like it—with the recent dissolution of parliament in Vanuatu and motions of no confidence in Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Solomon Islands. Although the …
Articles by: "Blake Johnson"
If Australia’s offer to support a National Rugby League (NRL) team in Papua New Guinea is contingent on PNG promising not to host Chinese forces, as reported on Monday, then the Australian government has lost …
The newly agreed Pacific defence response group to help with disaster relief will help to solidify Australia’s role as a primary provider of security assistance. It also gives the region a vital tool to promote …
It’s time for the Pacific to talk about ground rules in the security sector. The Pacific Response Group (PRG) is expected to be endorsed at this week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting in New Zealand. …
The public revelation this month that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat had been hacked has exposed significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the region. This breach, which possibly went undetected for months, has again thrust the …
It wasn’t the perfect start for the endorsement of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) on Wednesday at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. The Pacific-owned and led initiative aims to increase coordination and cooperation …
Kiribati’s polls have closed, and the results are in. There won’t be a president for several weeks, but, regardless of the outcome, Australia will be hoping for a fresh start. When parliament is formed, it …
A member of the Pacific family is in crisis, and how Australia responds next will shape its partnerships for years to come. Following unrest among pro-independence Kanaks in New Caledonia, Australia needs to back the …
On 13 July, the Australian government announced a new Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy designed to increase Pacific access to Australian content and foster engagement across the region, boosting capacity and capability through a variety of training …
On 30 March, the Chinese embassy in Fiji made an overt and concerning attempt to influence the Pacific information environment, seeking to shape perceptions around Chinese policing behaviours and reported links to organised crime in …
The Albanese government has unveiled its third budget. Our experts across defence, cybersecurity and technology, the Pacific, climate and critical minerals give their first impressions of what the budget has to offer—and what’s missing. …
Britain is becoming a model of what a smaller partner in the Pacific should be. Since announcing its Pacific Uplift policy five years ago, Britain has taken small but stable steps in building its presence …