Australia plans to invest around $400 million over the next five years to support the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), aimed at fulfilling the goals set by Pacific nations, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Upon arriving in Tonga on Thursday night, Albanese met with other Pacific leaders to endorse the PPI, a significant regional effort designed to enhance collective peace and security in the Pacific region.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the capabilities of Pacific nations in addressing law enforcement and internal security challenges while fostering mutual support during emergencies.
Albanese emphasized that the PPI builds on a longstanding tradition of collaboration among Pacific police forces to enhance regional stability and provide assistance in times of need. He stated that Pacific leaders are committed to shaping a secure future by improving the skills and coordination among police forces, which will ultimately benefit all nations in the region.
“This is a Pacific-led, Australia-backed initiative that taps into our shared strengths. Together, we are more resilient,” he added.
The PPI will focus on three key components: establishing up to four regional Centers of Excellence for police training across the Pacific, creating the Pacific Police Support Group (PPSG) to provide trained personnel for deployment in various situations, and setting up a PPI Policing Development and Coordination Hub in Brisbane, which will have access to advanced training facilities from the Australian Federal Police.
Albanese noted that Australia’s financial contribution will also cover infrastructure for the new training centers in the region.
The initiative aligns with the peace and security objectives outlined by the Pacific Islands Forum in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and draws from the recent experiences of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force.
Discussions regarding a cohesive regional policing strategy first took place during the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police meeting in 2023.