AUSTRALIAN Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil officially launched the Defence Training Hub Pacific during a visit to the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Votualevu, Nadi this week.
The initiative, developed through the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting (SPDMM), provides a new virtual classroom featuring more than 150 professional development courses for defence and security personnel across the region.
Speaking during a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, Mr Khalil praised the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and highlighted the vital role of cross-border collaboration in addressing regional security challenges.
“To put it simply, I think when the militaries of the Pacific work together, we are an asset for the region,” he said.
“The work that we do is really an investment in our shared resilience.”
The online platform brings together training opportunities from Australia, Pacific partners, and the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordinating Group into a single accessible portal designed to build operational interoperability.
Mr Khalil commended Fiji’s Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua and his team for hosting the SPDMM 2026 conference, emphasising that regional security partnerships are essential during periods of global instability.
“Every day we become more interoperable with each other. Every day we do that is a day we have improved our ability to meet the challenges that we face collectively.”
He reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting Fiji and the broader Pacific family, noting that collaborative defence efforts will remain crucial for long-term regional stability.
RFMF soldier Private Waisake Rabonu shows some of the Crowd Dispersal Management equipment to Australian Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil at the Blackrock Camp in Votualevu, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
