When Lt. Col. Eddie Miro, director of Papua New Guinea's tiny air force took the job, his country had one working helicopter. Today, Papua owns two PAC 750 single engine aircraft built in New Zealand.
Australia isn't alone in its focus on Papua New Guinea. The United States signed an agreement with PNG in May last year.
In this op-ed, Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen and Michael Walsh call for adding a second FAST unit in the Pacific to bolster US security.
“The way in which global trade is interconnected at the moment means that China has a trump card of maritime trade that no other nation on the planet’s got,” said Rear Adm. James Parkin, a senior officer in the UK's Royal Navy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Trump to offer his congratulations. "We talked about the importance of the Alliance, and the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment," he said in a tweet.
"The Pacific Islands occupy a pivotal location that is important to U.S. efforts to protect Americans and deny China’s regional hegemonic ambitions," Andrew Harding, the report's author says.
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
Months of Chinese harassment of Philippine vessels culminated in early December with up to 135 Chinese ships swarming the Philippines around Scarborough Shoal.
The investment by Australia and the United States into funding the new Google internet cables means the Pacific islands can avoid becoming integral parts of China's global data collection.
Wellington’s overtures to the Pacific Island nations are starting to see results as its new approach to the region sees relations improve allowing for more in-depth defence engagement.
The announcement of Austin's visit to Papua New Guinea came in the wake of more signs that that neighboring Solomon Islands continues to move towards China as its key partner.
Cybersecurity skills must evolve in near-real time as Zero Day threats continue and AI provides new challenges.
Campbell, the NSC's coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, said the US will launch a new effort next week to help the Pacific islands, including initiatives to build new embassies.