Papua New Guinea urges Pacific nations to turn security talks into concrete action

Papua New Guinea’s defence minister Elias Kapavore used a regional security forum to press for tangible cooperation among Pacific Island nations as threats become more cross-border. He warned that organised crime, especially drug trafficking, and climate-induced shocks such as the emerging El Niño crisis strain limited surveillance capacities across an ocean area of nearly 30 million square kilometres. Kapavore cited PNG’s recent legislation on transnational crime and called for regional enforcement, resource allocation and accountability.

He praised Fiji’s role in convening the meeting and the continued assistance of traditional partners Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The minister emphasized that shared planning, information-sharing and regular defence dialogues are essential to turn security concerns into effective national preparedness under the Blue Pacific agenda.