The Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF), after undergoing the Review of the Defense White Paper has pledged to stand ready to support the government in their aspirations for nation building.
Commander of Defense Force, Major General Mark Goina, stated that after a successful review, the PNGDF would like to assist and improve services in remote areas.
He explained that as part of the PNGDF’s core mandates in protecting the sovereignty of the country from external and domestic threats and supporting the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC), the review was timely and is in line with their aspirations for nation building. “We amended it under our constitution to undertake this task and other task in assisting civilian authorities in the development of Papua New Guinea.
This includes civil emergency and humanitarian assistance in disaster relief and in times of crisis.” In order to achieve this task, Maj. Gen. Goina stated that it is critical that the PNGDF is well structured and resourced as he believes the changing dialect in the country’s security environment require it so.
He said security is one of the government’s highest priorities, adding that having a peaceful and secure country consistent with Vision 2050 is not achievable without a strong national defense and security framework. Furthermore, according to the Defense Assessment of 2021, observed that the force is in very serious disrepair.
Therefore, he would like to see more funding and assistance being given to lift the standard of the defense force to what it was almost half a century ago.