Cook Islands National Security Policy evinces regional interest

Cook Islands, a New Zealand Protectorate, is due to publish its first National Security Policy.

The self-regulating Pacific Island country does not have an independent military and hence its proposed Policy will be watched with interest by the New Zealand and other governments.

The National Security Policy will take into account the changing regional issues and will seek to prioritise key security challenges and ways of addressing them.

As set out in the Draft Policy, the country’s Security Policy will look at the region in general but with a strong focus on national security.

About Cook Islands

Cook Islands is a Polynesian country, with membership in regional organisations such as the Polynesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Islands Forum.

It is a founding member of the Forum.

Geopolitically, it competes for greater playing level field with Melanesian countries for influence.

In recent times, to develop its regional influence, Cook Islands opened a High Commission in Fiji. The move came as many Indo-Fijians started to consider careers in Hospitality, Tourism and Information Technology.

The environment in which the Rarotonga operates has become more complex in recent years, with the growing Chinese presence in diplomatic and economic spheres.

International significance

Cook Islands understands the overall increasing Chinese presence in the South Pacific especially among Polynesian countries.

The country has appointed Dr Jim Gosselin as National Security Adviser (NSA) former Police Commissioner Maara Tetava Ariki  National Security Director.

Cook Islands has asked the Pacific Islands Forum to consider accrediting a representative to the US to create a stronger communication channel. This idea will be mooted when Fiji or Vanuatu will host the Forum meeting next year.

Cook Islands National Security Policy will be released at a time when its need to work on the Pacer Plus will be pronounced.

Relevance to Pacer Plus

Pacer Plus negotiations began in 2009 and concluded in 2017, with 11 countries signing the Agreement. Cook Islands recently became the eighth country to ratify Pacer Plus, following Kiribati, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Australia.

Eight ratifications are needed to bring the trade agreement into force.

As the Jacinda Arden’s second term government starts preparing its Defence White Paper scheduled to be released next year, it will take into consideration New Zealand’s military commitment in the Pacific Islands, including Cook Islands.

In turn, Cook Islands will also watch the development closely as it starts working its National Security Policy which will also be released by next year.

Balaji Chandramohan is Indian Newslink Correspondent based in New Delhi. The above Report has been sponsored by