Proliferation Security Initiative
Overview
The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) provides the international community with the practical means of cooperating to prevent illicit trafficking in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials. It aims to impede illicit WMD-related trade to and from states of proliferation concern and terrorist groups. In May 2008, Australia joined other PSI-supporting countries at a Senior-Level Meeting in Washington to mark the PSI’s fifth anniversary. The PSI is supported by more than 90 countries. The core objectives of the PSI are contained in a Statement of Interdiction Principles (SIP) to which all supporting countries publicly commit. Australia is working to raise awareness of, and expand support for, the PSI in the Asia-Pacific region.
PSI exercises
A priority for Australia, and all other PSI participants, is to maintain and refine capabilities for interdicting WMD-related trade. Countries participating in PSI activities have developed their maritime, air and ground interdiction capabilities through a program of joint training exercises in Europe, Asia and North America. These exercises are designed to: enhance operational responsiveness by testing national interdiction capacity; improve mechanisms for conducting joint interdiction operations with other countries; bridge differences in training and operational systems and allow operational crews and policy experts to learn to work together in a cooperative and collaborative manner. Australia has hosted two PSI interdiction exercises.