Exercise Pitch Black 2024 and Pacific Leaders Meeting in Japan – Updates on Security and Engagement in the Pacific Region

Exercise Pitch Black 2024: Australia Hosts Major Air Warfare Exercise

Australia is currently hosting Exercise Pitch Black, the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most important regular air warfare exercise. This bi-annual event, held since 1981, provides the RAAF with an opportunity to test its war-fighting skills through training with allies and partners.

This year’s Exercise Pitch Black involves around 4,400 service people from 20 nations operating about 140 aircraft. The exercise focuses on combat training over Northern Australia, involving high-risk activities that sometimes result in accidents. For instance, an Italian fighter plane crashed during the exercise, but fortunately, the pilot ejected safely.

The international participation in Exercise Pitch Black is significant, with several European nations taking part as part of the German-led Exercise Pacific Skies 2024. The range of military hardware operating over Northern Australia includes aircraft like Eurofighter Typhoons, US Air Force F-22 Raptors, RAAF F-35 Lightning II, French Rafaels, and more.

This exercise serves as a rehearsal for potential conflicts, allowing participating nations to work together, test operational procedures, and ensure they can fight together if needed. It also highlights Australia’s expanding role in Pacific security, positioning the nation as a key player in potential conflicts in the region.

In a related event, Pacific leaders recently met in Japan for the 10th Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting (PALM). The summit focused on various issues, including security concerns in the region. The Pacific Islands Forum’s strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent emphasizes human security, economic security, and regional cooperation to address challenges like climate change and transnational crime.

The meeting reaffirmed the desire of Pacific leaders to engage with larger powers on their terms, seeking partners who align with the region’s strategic goals. Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy was highlighted as a key policy initiative to support peace, security, and economic growth in the region.

Additionally, the Pacific Islands Forum expressed interest in engaging with New Caledonia, a French colony facing political challenges. The forum aims to support dialogue between the French government and the local community to address issues related to the independence referendum and socioeconomic status in the region.

In Melanesia, ongoing developments include the Solomon Islands seeking aid from China to improve Honiara Airport and reports of violence in Papua New Guinea. These incidents underscore the complex security challenges facing the Pacific region and the need for collaborative efforts to address them effectively.

Overall, the Exercise Pitch Black 2024 and related events highlight the evolving security landscape in the Pacific and the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges and promoting peace and stability.