Region: Outcomes from the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting
Over 22-24 September, Pacific defence ministers convened in Fiji for the annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). Key outcomes during the meeting included:
Agreement to slow progress on expanding the Pacific Response Group’s (PRG) mandate from humanitarian and disaster response to stability operations. The latter will go under further review with the intent to achieve regional consensus.
Commence formal negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement for future PRG deployments.
Explore military support for Waqa Moana, a broader security initiative adopted at the Pacific Islands Forum targeting transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking.
Other themes included acknowledgement of the effects of climate change, cybersecurity, and AI on the regional security environment.
Comment: The SPDMM is an annual event. The PRG, established in 2024 by the SPDMM, was the central topic in this year’s meeting. Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia, and France participate in the PRG, which is currently hosted by New Zealand. Expansion to stability operations was raised at the 2025 SPDMM, the call for further consideration likely indicates some support for the concept but not yet consensus between all parties.
Sources: Bose Vavataga, “Strengthening cooperation against drug threat,” FBC, 28 September 2026; “Pacific Defence Ministers Strengthen Regional Security,” Fiji One, 28 September 2026; Stephen Dziedzic, “Pacific defence ministers call for consensus on military response group,” RNZ, 25 September 2026; “Joint Communique, South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting,” MOD, 24 September 2026.
