“Only three of the 14 PICs represented have armed forces — Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Tonga — amplifying the importance of partnerships and collective security as the vast region faces threats ranging from illegal fishing to transnational crime and geopolitical competition.”
“The Pacific region’s 22 island nations and territories are home to about 14.3 million people, although PNG accounts for 75% of the total population, according to Pacific Community, a regional scientific and technical organization. Many island nations have limited resources and capacity to monitor their expansive maritime zones and conduct security and humanitarian missions.”
“PICs participating in the defense dialogue were Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. They were joined by partner nations Australia, Canada, Chile, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.”
“ASEAN members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam observed the dialogue.”
https://ipdefenseforum.com/2026/03/tokyo-forum-boosts-pacific-island-resilience-collective-security/