SUVA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- It is defense ministers' prerogative to ensure the maintenance of security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of not only their individual states, but also that of the Pacific region, Fiji's Defense Minister said on Thursday.
Speaking at the opening of 4th South Pacific Defense Ministers Meeting (SPDMM) in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city, where climate change and regional security top the agenda, Fiji's Minister for Defense, National Security and Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu said that this could be achieved through collaboration on defense capability modernization and collective situational analysis and sharing of pertinent, timely and quality information on defense and security issues.
Pacific Leaders in 2018 forged a new regional security arrangement recognizing climate change as the single greatest non-traditional threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the people in the Pacific region, he said.
The minister stressed that this is an important step forward for the region in the fight against climate change and the ball is now in their court at the SPDMM to be able to provide strategic leadership and guidance to the climate change and security nexus of the region.
The biennial forum, which is expect to end on Friday, involves defense ministers from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France and Chile with the United States and Britain as observers.
