The Pacific Response Group is beginning negotiations on a treaty that would allow it to respond more quickly to natural disasters and other crises across the region.
Chief of the Australian Defence Force Admiral David Johnston with Tonga's Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Lord Fielakepa at the Joint Heads of Pacific Security meeting in Brisbane.
Pacific nations are working to expand a new military group to tackle major unrest across the region. The Pacific Response Group was formed in 2024 and first deployed that same year during an earthquake in Vanuatu. Negotiations have begun on a treaty to help govern regional deployments and respond more quickly to natural diasters.
Pacific nations look set to expand the remit of a new military response group so it can tackle major unrest in the region, while beginning negotiations on a treaty that would allow it to respond more quickly to natural disasters and other crises. The Pacific Response Group was formed in 2024 as part of a push from Australia and several other governments in the region to develop a more coordinated response to natural disasters.
It was first deployed in December 2024 when Vanuatu was hit with a devastating earthquake, with a small PRG planning team arriving to offer advice and support. A group of Pacific nations created to respond to humanitarian catastrophes will have an expanded remit, including "stabilisation" missions.
Last year, the South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting endorsed a move to "broaden the mandate" of the group beyond disaster response to include "stabilisation operations" — asking defence chiefs to lay out a framework for regional deployments. And in a major move, defence officials from across the region – who have been attending a major gathering of Pacific defence, military, immigration and customs personnel in Brisbane this week – are now pushing for a new treaty to develop a framework that would help govern regional deployments, including by the PRG.
Samoa Police Detective Superintendent Lefaoali'i Aldora Mamaia with Vanuatu's Pacific Fusion Centre Assistant Director Monalisa Tiai-Keti at the meeting. The Joint Heads of Pacific Security released a communique which recommended Pacific leaders "agree to commence negotiations on a Regional Operations Deployment Framework Treaty", saying it would provide a "flexible and responsive mechanism" so Pacific nations can offer assistance more quickly.
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force Admiral David Johnston said the PRG would form a "hub" for crisis response that "each nation is able to build on".
"We're really building it out so we have all of those options available for our leaders and for any Pacific country to call for that support," he said. "That's what we're continuing to see emerge, the work we're doing in the JHOPS meeting here, the Pacific Response Group and the policing initiatives — all of those are very much focused on the region taking the lead on the problems or security issues that emerge … and bringing the best of our capabilities together.
" His Tongan counterpart, the Chief of Staff of His Majesty's Armed Forces, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa, said he wanted to see a "region first" approach to crises. Mike Hughes from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said it would be "another plank in the broader Pacific integration agenda that this government has championed". As Australia presses on to finally sign a key agreement with Vanuatu, reports of a security agreement with China have drawn a fierce response from Port Vila.
"It'd be a good development all-round, ensuring that the real regional challenges we all face are dealt with together in a cooperative, shared manner — underpinned in this case by a treaty, which speaks to the importance to all of rules and governance amidst a deteriorating global order," he said. The announcement comes against the backdrop of relentless strategic competition in the region, with Australia and other partners intensifying efforts to stop China gaining a security foothold in the Pacific.
Pacific Nations Pacific Response Group Vanuatu Joint Heads Of Pacific Security David Johnston
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Childcare group G8 to close 10 per cent of centres after child abuse scandalAbout 36,000 children are enrolled under the brand's 395 childcare and early learning centres, which include centres such as Headstart, Jellybeans, Kool Kids and Kindy Patch Kids.
Read more »
Australia’s largest private childcare group to close 40 centres after abuse scandalAustralia’s largest private childcare operator is closing about 40 centres as it grapples with a former worker’s child abuse charges and poor demand.
Read more »
India Overtakes England as Australia’s Largest Foreign-Born Resident Group for the First TimeNew data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that India has surpassed England as the largest foreign-born resident group in Australia, marking a historic demographic shift. The Indian-born population has grown significantly, while the English-born population has declined. The report also highlights trends in other migrant communities and global migration patterns.
Read more »
Government Response Criticized as Antisemitism Rose Before Bondi MassacreA submission to the Bondi massacre royal commission argues government hesitation contributed to a climate where antisemitism flourished in Australia, particularly following the October 7th attacks. The submission highlights the normalization of attacks on Jewish Australians and criticizes the use of terms like Zionist and genocide supporter as justifications for harassment and violence.
Read more »
Childcare group G8 to close 40 centres after child abuse scandalVictoria and Western Australia will be affected the most, with 12 centres shutting in each state. NSW, Queensland and South Australia will also have closures.
Read more »
Iran-linked Group Claims Responsibility for Attacks on Jewish Sites in London, Police Suspect OpportunismHAYI, an Iran-linked terror group, has claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Golders Green and a series of arson attacks targeting Jewish community sites in North London. However, investigators believe the claims may be opportunistic, citing the suspect's history of violence and mental health issues, and a lack of evidence of direct Iranian state involvement.
Read more »