New Zealand sends ships to its partners to reinforce maritime security in the Pacific

July 22 () –

New Zealand Defense Minister Peeni Henare announced this Friday the dispatch of patrol vessels to its Pacific Island partners with the intention of reinforcing maritime security in the Pacific region.

“The Pacific is who we are and where we are. The challenges facing our region are also New Zealand’s, which is why the region is both a foreign and defense policy priority for the Government,” Henare said in a shared statement. by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence.

Specifically, the Government of New Zealand has prepared the shipment of Royal Navy ships HMNZS Wellington and HMNZS Manawanui, which will depart this Saturday to carry out a series of support activities under the slogan “Operation Mahi Tahi”, which includes maritime patrols of Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft.

“Operation Mahi Tahi will allow us to work together to provide maritime security patrols to detect and deter illegal fishing, as well as to conduct explosive remnants of war reconnaissance; training and capacity building in the fisheries sector; humanitarian aid and disaster relief planning and engagement of the Pacific Advocacy Gender Network,” Henare said.

In this regard, the New Zealand Armed Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Primary Industries are developing a partnership with defense and fisheries officials in Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Last week’s Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Fiji reinforced the “deep and enduring connections” of states in the region, and reaffirmed a led approach to achieving regional peace and security.

During the summit, the United States announced a new strategy to prioritize foreign relations with Pacific states in an effort to counter China’s influence in the region.

In addition, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, ruled out that the security agreement signed with China last April would allow the Asian giant to establish a military base on its territory and thus turn its citizens into ” targets of a possible military attack.