Experts from 29 countries participated in Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Exercise Pacific Protector 24 in Sydney, Australia, from 24 to 27 September 2024. Participating States committed to preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials by State and non-State actors of concern.
Since its establishment in 2003, PSI has proved an effective forum to enhance cooperation on disrupting illicit transfers of WMD-related materials and technologies. The PSI partnership has grown from 11 participating states into a flexible, voluntary, global, enduring counter-proliferation initiative endorsed by 114 states. PSI partners' commitments and actions make the initiative a key component of the global framework against WMD proliferation and contribute to upholding international peace and security. The 2023 PSI High Level Political Meeting Joint Statement highlighted that '...counter-proliferation efforts require greater awareness and collaboration amongst endorsing States in response to the recent challenges to the global and strategic security environment.'
PSI exercises improve mechanisms for sharing intelligence, aligning decision-making processes, building capacity, and deploying capabilities and assets for interdiction operations. Australia's Exercise Pacific Protector 24 brings together regional and global experts in the fields of security, defence, foreign affairs, border and export control, law enforcement, and counter-proliferation. The exercise enhances regional counter-proliferation capability, coordination, and interdiction techniques. It also sends a clear signal to proliferators that their activities are being monitored and PSI partners are prepared to take individual or collaborative action to prevent WMD proliferation.
Exercise Pacific Protector 24 included boarding exercises, live demonstrations and training activities conducted in Sydney by the Australian Defence Force and New South Wales Police Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy and Coast Guard, the Singapore Armed Forces, and the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. The exercise also included an engagement activity where Pacific Protector participants viewed boarding exercises from the Garden Island Defence Precinct.
Exercise Pacific Protector 2024 is the tenth exercise in the enduring APER schedule. Exercise Pacific Protector 2024 follows previous successful APER exercises: the Republic of Korea's Exercise Eastern Endeavor 2023 and 2019, the United States' Exercise Fortune Guard 2022 and 2014, Singapore's Exercise Deep Sabre 2021 and 2016, Japan's Exercise Pacific Shield 2018, Australia's Exercise Pacific Protector 2017, and New Zealand's Exercise Maru 2015.
