Regional maritime cooperation and capacity strengthening were a key part of Cook Islands’ interests at this year’s Indo-Pacific Sea Power Conference in Sydney, recently.

Attending the 13^th annual event hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, Police Commissioner TJ Keenan took part in three days of panel discussions and workshops, as well as bilateral talks. 

In a statement, Police said: “While the conference theme (Fleet 2035: Sea Power and the Future of Maritime Warfare) reflected the importance of the maritime domain and the future role of sea power across the Southern Hemisphere, the Cook Islands and other Pacific Islands nations play a key role in security and the strategic surveillance of natural resources in the region.”

Of particular interest to Australia and New Zealand has been the successful implementation of a partnership between the Cook Islands and Fiji in the sail of Te Kukupa II back to Cairns, in August, the statement said.

Three Fiji Navy personnel, including a navigator, were a key part of boosting the capacity of the Cook Islands Maritime Division at a critical time.

“The cooperation model now provides a significant lead in the sharing of regional resources and operational capabilities in Pacific maritime responsibilities.”

Commissioner Keenan said the cooperative arrangement with Fiji was fully supported in the spirit of expanding relations between the two countries at the highest level, and the close community ties developing from the growing Fiji population in the Cook Islands. 

The Sea Power conference was paralleled with the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition.

Meanwhile late last month Commissioner Keenan was in Japan to attend the third Coast Guard Global Summit alongside Maritime Surveillance Advisor LTCDR Dave Longhurst RNZN.

The Summit was an opportunity for global and regional cooperation on maritime issues and concerns, and brought together relevant agencies and authorities from 80 countries. 

The Cook Islands is engaged in cooperative regional surveillance programmes and operations, working closely with Pacific nations, as well as the US Coast Guard, Australia, NZ, and the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), and France.