By: Francisca Anania
During this 8th edition of South Pacific Defence minister’s meeting, PNG’s Defence Minister Win Bakri Daki was able to speak with French Minister of the Armed Forces Mr. Sébastien Lecornu. This 8th edition of SPDMM allowed Ministers’ Daki and Lecornu to deepen bilateral cooperation – one year after the signing of the Status of Force Agreement between France and PNG.
The South Pacific Defence Minister’s Meeting (SPDMM) in New Caledonia recently, has strengthened the framework of bilateral cooperation in the fight against illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing, where France is an usual stakeholder, as member of the Pacific Quad (with Australia, New-
Zealand and the US) working with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.
Thanks to the letter of intent signed by the two Defence Ministers in Noumea, France and PNG are taking a significant step forward, allowing both countries to better protect their Exclusive Economic Zones. During their talks, Minister Lecornu presented to his PNG counterpart the project of a Pacific Academy, inspired by French President Emmanuel Macron. With it, France will multiply by six the number of trainees from South Pacific countries welcomed in New Caledonia.
This approach aims to meet PNGDF’s training needs, in coordination with all other SPDMM member states. The modernization of equipment provided by the French Military Programming Law will be used throughout the region: patrol boats, drones, satellites.
To better face the consequences of climate change together, the ministers agreed on the need to develop innovative and affordable tools. In this context, they discussed drones and maritime surveillance solutions from space. France is happy to work alongside PNG to study all the aspects of a potential cooperation and will consider any needs expressed by Papua New Guinea on this.
