CSIS Tracks Pacific Security Pacts Amid Regional Rivalry
A new mapping tool highlights 56 security agreements across 14 Pacific island nations involving major global powers.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in International Relations
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The Centre for Strategic and International Studies has released a tracker detailing 56 security arrangements between 14 Pacific island countries and major powers like the U.S., China, Australia, and New Zealand. The tool classifies these ties into categories ranging from formal defense treaties to non-binding cooperation.
Why it matters
As the United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan compete for strategic influence in the Pacific, this matrix provides clarity on the evolving web of security commitments. These agreements reflect a heightened regional focus on maritime surveillance, policing, and defense cooperation.
The tracking tool maps 56 distinct security arrangements across 14 Pacific nations, including joint maritime patrol agreements the United States holds with 13 of those countries. The data accounts for various commitment levels, such as status of forces agreements and defense treaties.
The players
Centre for Strategic and International Studies
This Washington-based think tank provides strategic insights and policy analysis on global security, defense, and international affairs.
China
As a major global power, the nation is actively expanding its influence and security footprint across the Pacific region.
United States
The nation maintains joint maritime patrol arrangements with 13 Pacific island countries to bolster regional security and influence.
Australia
This regional partner has recently solidified its security network through mutual defense treaties with nations including Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Solomon Islands
The nation is a focal point of geopolitical competition and entered into a formal security pact with China in 2022.
The details
The CSIS matrix assigns weights to different forms of cooperation, including policing, maritime surveillance, and memorandums of understanding. This follows a period of rapid diplomatic activity, including China's ballistic missile test in the South Pacific and various new mutual defense treaties signed throughout 2025 and 2026.
Timeline
April 2022: China signed a formal security pact with the Solomon Islands.
February 2025: The Cook Islands established a partnership with China.
October 2025: Australia signed a mutual defense treaty with Papua New Guinea.
November 2025: Taiwan signed the Kaitasi Treaty with Tuvalu.
July 2026: China conducted a ballistic missile test in the South Pacific.
Political Context
The CSIS security tracker contextualizes bilateral arrangements like the Kaitasi Treaty within a larger matrix of regional influence. This mapping highlights the growing complexity of defense commitments that opposition parties and regional critics frequently debate regarding long-term sovereignty.
Increased regional security competition may lead to shifts in international policy and regulatory environments for businesses operating in the Pacific. Taxpayers and citizens may see changes in government funding priorities as nations bolster their defense and maritime surveillance capabilities.
The takeaway
Understanding the dense network of security agreements in the Pacific is essential for grasping the current competitive landscape between major powers. Readers should monitor regional diplomatic developments, as these pacts directly influence the geopolitical stability of the Pacific islands.
Further reading
Explore more analysis on global geopolitical shifts in the International Relations section.
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Do you believe the increase in foreign security agreements in the Pacific makes the region safer?
