Vanuatu’s National Security Strategy (NSS), serves as the overarching framework for the country’s security efforts. The strategy was developed in 2019 following extensive consultations to identify key priority areas and ten (10) strategic pillars. The NSS also establishes the institutional mechanisms for responding to security threats, including the creation of a National Security Council, a National Security Advisor, and a supporting Secretariat, all established through the National Security Act.
Tafea College Student during a consultation with the National Security HandbookThe NSS embraces the broad concept of security now widely accepted regionally and globally and not only covers traditional security concerns, but also issues like climate change and human security and focuses on security challenges most relevant to Vanuatu’s circumstances.
In 2023 the NSS was updated, following the drastically changing security landscape. While there are security risks that can be anticipated, inevitably there are also many that cannot. However, it is important that the strategy remains under regular review as perceived circumstances and risks change.