Why Isn’t PNG at the Munich Security Conference? A Case for Greater Global Engagement

-

PNG, the largest and most populous Pacific Island nation, is absent from one of the world’s most critical security forums, the Munich Security Conference (MSC). This absence is perplexing given PNG’s growing geopolitical significance. Meanwhile, smaller Pacific nations like Fiji have made their presence felt at the MSC, using the platform to enhance their international standing. The question then arises: why isn’t PNG participating, despite its size, strategic position, and importance in the Pacific?

A screenshot from the Fijian Government's Facebook page.

At the 61st MSC in February 2025, Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka reaffirmed his country’s commitment to opening an embassy in Jerusalem during high-level bilateral discussions. This was a strategic diplomatic move, strengthening Fiji-Israel relations while projecting Fiji’s engagement on the global stage. This proactive use of the MSC demonstrates how smaller nations can leverage international forums to achieve significant diplomatic outcomes, even beyond traditional security discussions.

For PNG, attending the MSC offers an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen its international profile. As geopolitical interest in the Pacific intensifies, PNG has the potential to shape the global narrative on issues like climate security, maritime governance, and transnational crime—challenges that are critical not only to PNG but to the entire Pacific region. Participation in the MSC would allow PNG to assert its voice and advocate for the unique needs of Pacific Island nations, ensuring they are not overshadowed in global security debates.

Fiji’s success at the MSC underscores the value of showing up. By participating, Fiji demonstrated its ability to engage with global powers and negotiate meaningful diplomatic initiatives, such as its strengthened ties with Israel. PNG, with its larger economy and population, has even more to gain from participating in such forums. Beyond diplomacy, the MSC could open doors for PNG to explore partnerships in infrastructure, technology, and security capacity-building, areas that are crucial for its development and stability.

PNG’s absence at the MSC reflects broader issues in its approach to global diplomacy. While resource and capacity constraints are often cited as reasons, Fiji’s participation shows that strategic prioritization can overcome such challenges. The MSC is not just another event—it is a venue where PNG could secure partnerships and investments critical to addressing its national challenges. Attending such forums should be viewed not as an expense but as a strategic investment in PNG’s future.

Beyond immediate benefits, attending the MSC would also help PNG address its long-term security concerns in a global context. The Pacific faces existential threats from climate change, yet these issues often struggle to gain the attention they deserve in global forums. PNG’s active participation would ensure that climate security and related concerns are highlighted, advocating for stronger international support to address these challenges.

Fiji’s engagement at the MSC highlights another critical advantage of participation—enhancing diplomatic visibility. By attending, Fiji demonstrated that even smaller nations could wield significant influence in shaping global discussions. PNG, as the largest Pacific Island nation, has the potential to command even greater attention and respect. Its absence, however, signals a missed opportunity to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to global security issues.

PNG is at a critical juncture in its diplomatic evolution. With its size, resources, and strategic location, PNG has a responsibility to actively engage in global security discussions. The MSC offers the perfect platform to do so, allowing PNG to forge partnerships, advocate for its interests, and showcase its leadership in the Pacific. Fiji’s success at the MSC is a lesson in what can be achieved with strategic participation. The time has come for PNG to claim its rightful seat at the table and ensure its voice is heard in shaping the future of international security.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FPA: Organizational Process Model

-
This model centers on the fact that different bureaucracies have different standard operating procedures. These procedures are made in order to allow day to day operations to be carried out. Thus, a foreign policy decision is made based on these standard operating procedures. It is hard for a bureaucracy to make a decision or let alone function out of character or contrary to their standard operating procedure. The reading Chapter 4: Foreign policy shares a straight forward explanation of the OPM: "An alternative to the rational model of decision making is the organizational process model. In this model, foreign policy decision makers generally skip the labor-intensive process of identifying goals and alternative actions, relying instead for most decisions on standardized responses or standard operating procedures. For example, the U.S. State Department everyday receives more than a thousand reports or inquiries from its embassies around the world and sends out more than a ...
Read more

Commercial liberalism and the six norms

-
Image
Liberal internationalism is defined by Griffiths, O'Callaghan and Roach (2008, p.190) as a project to transform international relations so that they conform to models of peace, freedom, and prosperity allegedly enjoyed within constitutional liberal democracies. The same scholars go further by dividing liberalism into three distinct groups. They say these are the three ways to implement the project. The way they present liberal internationalism as a project makes their work interesting. Three distinct groups Firstly, commercial liberalism is about free trade between states. States bilaterally or multilaterally via a platform like APEC pursue the goal of trade liberalization. Griffiths, O'Callagahan and Roach (ibid.) argued that economic interdependence would decrease the likelihood of going to war. Republican liberalism is about democratic peace. The scholars argued that the spread of democracy among states so that governments will be accountable to their citizens makes it di...
Read more

Allison's rational actor model

-
There are 3 common models of foreign policy decision making according to Graham Allison: rational actor model organizational process mode government politics model.  We will discuss the 3 models and compare them with the 3 levels of analysis. However, I challenge you to use your own initiative to learn about the other models of decision making. This will help you as future decision makers or analysts to understand how decisions are made and the processes. When one wakes up from bed he or she decides whether or not to brush their teeth, comb their hair and have a shower. These decisions are paramount, they affect and influence how the individual interacts in a social setting. This highlights the fact that as human beings we make decisions every day. Decision making is defined as the thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. In the case of the ‘Kibung peles boy’ analogy; the male student had a choice of approaching the girl to ask he...
Read more