Defence Magazine

Two Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 aircraft from 75 Squadron interdict and escort a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 during Exercise Pacific Protector 06.
Photo by LAC Steve Duncan

Representatives of 32 countries recently converged on Darwin for the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Exercise Pacific Protector 06.

Pacific Protector 06 was the first PSI air interdiction exercise held in the Asia-Pacific region. There were about 300 participants and observers.

Established in 2003, the PSI is an informal arrangement designed to combat the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related materials. Under the PSI, countries agree to cooperate with each other, as necessary, in intercepting and deterring illicit WMD trade.

The PSI framework has been used a number of times to successfully intercept WMD-related shipments. Many PSI interdictions are not publicised because they involve sensitive intelligence and diplomatic issues.

Exercise Pacific Protector 06 was important in demonstrating Australia's enduring support of the PSI. Australia was one of the first countries to declare its support for the PSI in 2003, and since then has been active in hosting PSI exercises and conferences.

Within Defence, the International and Domestic Security Policy Branch (part of the Strategic Policy Division) manages PSI engagement.

Pacific Protector 06 consisted of three days of activity in and above the Northern Territory. The first two days included a tabletop exercise and various briefings to PSI and non-PSI countries. The live exercise was conducted on the final day, and included assets or personnel from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The exercise scenario involved the Australian Government learning that an aircraft flying over Australia was carrying illicit cargo of proliferation concern.

The aircraft was flying to the fictitious state of Kamaria, where intelligence suggested a front company would re-export the goods to a state-based WMD program in a nation of proliferation concern.

In the live exercise component of Pacific Protector 06, a passenger aircraft (a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757) carrying exercise volunteers was met and identified by Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18s and escorted to Darwin International Airport.

When the aircraft landed, its passengers and cargo were quarantined and searched by agencies including the Australian Customs Service and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. The Incident Response Regiment was called in to handle WMD-related materials discovered on the aircraft.

Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson delivered a keynote address to the audience of international delegates.

Dr Nelson said the PSI is a practical response to the emerging challenges faced by this region and by the world. He told the delegates that a critical driver for the PSI should be the firm belief that nations can make a difference through cooperation, and that from the Australian point of view, threats to our regional neighbours are threats to us.

The Minister said all PSI participating countries have made an undertaking, by endorsing the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles, to act only within international law and national law. The PSI itself does not grant authority to conduct interdictions.

Dr Nelson emphasised that Australia regards the PSI as an extra mechanism that supports the traditional arms control and non-proliferation treaties, such as the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions.

He highlighted comments by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that PSI is an effective way of dealing with the gaps that exist in the current suite of counter-proliferation arrangements.

The exercise demonstrated Defence's ability to work effectively with other Commonwealth and territory agencies, including the Australian Customs Service, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and the Australian Federal Police.

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Strategy

Exercise Pacific Protector 06