Defense is Papua New Guinea's Insurance Policy

By Reginald Renagi

Despite its shortcomings, the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) like any military institution; is a noble profession of arms. The Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) is our insurance policy even if there is no external military threat. Papua New Guineans need to know today why we have our own military.
No matter how one looks at it, a country's armed force is its insurance and is an instrument of politics. Throughout history, the military was created by governments to provide it some kind of comprehensive insurance policy cover to defend its national interests. The world over has had standing security forces to serve the state's purposes. This will remain so, as long as people are inclined to the application of force to solve their social problems. For as long as man has existed, people have been fighting forever. The fighting will go on forever.

To think you can stop people fighting by taking away their weapons is an infantile notion to get much support in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The government has proven this for years. However, I am sure that one day, we will in our own way find a way around this universal problem. While we may not be invaded by another country in a military sense, we have some serious emerging external and internal security challenges to tackle as a 'matter of national security priorities' in future.

PNG must rationalize how to optimize its defense outputs better. No matter how one looks at it, the country's defense force is its insurance and is an instrument of politics. History has proven that diplomacy alone will not keep potential enemies at bay as many a politician, diplomat and academic has found out over the ages.

This rationale argument under serious analysis appears too limited in scope for a wide-ranging; and complex issue such as national security, or of defense’s relevance to society. However, this still should not stop a small country like Papua New Guinea (PNG) to conduct ourselves as good neighbors, or being responsible global citizens through appropriate diplomatic policy strategies. History has proven that diplomacy alone will not keep potential enemies at bay as many a politician, diplomat and academic has found out over the ages.