Pacific small armies’ forum reinvigorates relationships

Senior army leaders from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and New Zealand took part in the 5th Pacific Small Armies Forum, discussing challenges and commonalities unique to small armies in the region.

Member nations discussed frameworks for training and improving interoperability on land, reinforcing existing regional cooperation efforts, and resilience to climate change, over the two days of talks.  

Along with discussing common challenges and collective solutions, meeting together as a Pacific family was a highlight for those attending.

“The ability to connect as Pacific people to generate solutions together is what makes this forum unique,” said Major Hema Palefau, a first time attendee, from Tonga. 

“Building relationships with key leaders and bouncing ideas off each other, synchronising efforts and training opportunities. We are a family in the Pacific and we are building on that.”

Reinvigorating long standing partnerships was the cornerstone for regular attendees. 

Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Waqanisau, from Fiji, said there was a long history of the Pacific neighbourhood working together as brothers and sisters. 

“We are here with likeminded partners, finding solutions for challenges in smaller armies and working together. The engagement continues long after the forum and benefits our units, like through improving training standards. The forum gives space to discuss and share as we progress in the same direction.”

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Kellerton, from Papua New Guinea, said the forum was about “coming together as friends, strengthening our relationships and enhancing interoperability”.

“We look forward to contributing again next year.”

New Zealand Army Land Component Commander, Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, said working together to conduct activities important to the security, stability and resilience of the Pacific region was a shared commitment.

“Our New Zealand Army highly values international engagement with our regional partners and continues to look for opportunities where we can share lessons we have learnt and best practises that will help improve our interoperability and collaboration. This aligns to our focus on continually identifying opportunities to deploy, train, and engage with our regional and international partners and friends.”

The annual forum aims to strengthen connections and information exchange among trusted partners fostering mutual understanding, collaboration and security cooperation. Providing a platform to build people-to-people relationships and to further develop the Pacific Small Armies Forum’s operational focus. 

“The essence of our Pacific relationship and the importance of our small Armies forum is increasingly relevant in a changing geopolitical landscape,” Brigadier Dyhrberg said.