US to provide inshore security during Apec

THE United States will provide inshore security during the Apec Leaders’ Week in November, after an agreement between the Papua New Guinea and US governments yesterday.
Minister for Apec Justin Tkatchenko met with United States Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Philip Davidson and made an agreement for security.
Davidson made the announcement of an agreement for the US to provide inshore security on the waters of PNG and Indo-Pacific region during the Apec meeting.
He said US and PNG had an outstanding military relationship which had expanded during recent years.
Davidson said PNG was an important leader in the region, being the largest and most-populated Pacific nation, hosted the Pacific Islands Forum in 2015 and now Apec 2018.
“US has committed to assist in-shore security for Apec through our United State Coast Guard,” he said.
“Our partnership with PNG complements Australia and New Zealand’s significant contributions to the security during the summit.”
As part of this in-shore security package, US Coast Guard transportable port security boats with personnel will operate out of an Australian landing helicopter dock (LHD) ship.
This is in coordination with security partners from the PNG Defence Force, Australia and New Zealand.
“We have everything to gain from working together to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” Davidson said.
“I look forward to close collaboration with PNG and further that it reflects the values and principles that we share.”
Tkatchenko said the US and PNG had a very close relationship for many years “and it was great to see them (US) coming on board in supporting the country in many different ways”.