BLOG: Security: Pacific Fusion Centre, Vanuatu sign formal host country agreement

Port Vila, 23 February 2024–The Government of Vanuatu and the Pacific Fusion Centre (PFC) signed a new Host Agreement on Friday 23 February.
The Host Agreement was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Matai Seremaia Nawalu, and the Director of the PFC, Mr. James Movick. The Host Agreement fulfils the intention of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members by formally establishing the regional headquarters of the PFC in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The PFC delivers strategic analysis and training against priorities identified by PIF Leaders in the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security. The Centre enhances information sharing and cooperation on shared security threats to strengthen national, sub-regional and regional responses to security threats and challenges. Key Beneficiaries of the Centre are policy makers and security officials within PIF member states and regional organisations identified in the Charter.

The Centre is led by a Pacific Island Director, Mr. James Movick, from the Federated States of Micronesia. He is supported by a Pacific Island Assistant Director, Mr. Viliame Bovoro, from Fiji. Pacific Island Countries contribute to the Centre through the secondment of analysts, who undergo a structured program of formal and on-the-job training to deliver strategic security assessments for Pacific governments covering a broad range of security topics, such as climate security, human security, economic security and cybersecurity.

The PFC has been fully funded by the Australian Government to date. The signing of the Host Agreement is an important step towards enabling the Centre to expand its funding base and operations for the benefit of PIF members.

Director Movick thanked the Minister for hosting the PFC in Vanuatu, and noted that the Centre hopes to host many more Vanuatu Government officials who can develop their analytic tradecraft at the Centre.

The Honorable Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the Vanuatu Government is very pleased to be hosting the PFC in Vanuatu, and acknowledged the important role that the Centre plays in expanding awareness across the region on shared security threats.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Australian High Commissioner, HE. Heidi Bootle, Vanuatu National Security Adviser, Ms Roline Tekon, and Director Yvon Basil from the Vanuatu Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, as well as other senior Vanuatu Government officials and Pacific Fusion Centre staff.

--Joint PFC, Vanuatu Gov release.