Australia's ongoing commitment to counter the illicit trade of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) continues, with the commencement of Exercise Pacific Protector 2024 on 24 September 2024.
As a founding partner of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), Australia hosted this year's iteration of the Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation, a global effort to support the capacity of countries in the Indo-Pacific region to impede illicit WMD-related trade.
Taking place in Sydney from 24 to 27 September 2024, the exercise comprises academic sessions, a table-top exercise, boarding exercises, demonstrations and training activities.
Dr Sheridan Kearnan, Defence's First Assistant Secretary for Strategic Policy, said Pacific Protector 2024 allowed Australia and its PSI partners to build networks, tools and capabilities aimed at enhancing capacity and interoperability.
"The exercise provides an opportunity to practice scenarios and improve mechanisms for sharing intelligence, aligning decision-making processes and deploying capabilities and assets for interdiction operations," Dr Kearnan said.
"It sends a clear signal to proliferators that their activities are being monitored and PSI partners are prepared to take individual or collaborative action to stop illicit WMD proliferation."
The 28 participating countries include Argentina, Australia, Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Border Force, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australian Federal Police and NSW Police are also participating in the exercise.
In addition, on Monday 23 September 2024, Australia hosted the annual PSI steering group meeting - the Operational Experts Group - welcoming Chile as the newest member.
