Image: Vanuatu Tourism Office Vision Safety and security for all our peoples, through a national security system that anticipates threats, protects the nation, builds resilience, and shapes our environment in Vanuatu’s interests. National Security Objectives To ensure a safe, stable and prosperous society and protection of our values To protect and strengthen our sovereignty To secure our assets, infrastructure and institutions To ensure our foreign policy and external engagement maximise Vanuatu’s national interests Executive Summary There can be no higher responsibility of a government than to protect the nation. This document - Vanuatu’s first-ever National Security Strategy - provides an integrated, overarching framework for our national security effort. The Strategy identifies and prioritises threats and opportunities; provides for the establishment of strong government machinery under our new National Security Council to deal with national security issues and to boost our intelligence and assessment capability; and maps out the main Pillars for securing Vanuatu’s future. 8 The Strategy, which was developed following a wide range of consultations, underlines our aspirations for a stable, sustainable and prosperous Vanuatu, as Vanuatu National Security Strategy set out in the People’s Plan 2016-2030. It is fully aligned with Vanuatu’s national, regional and international goals and commitments. The Strategy embraces the broad concept of security now widely accepted regionally and internationally, which in addition to traditional security issues includes challenges such as climate change and national disasters, cyber security, and human security. We will build our capacity and resilience to mitigate security risks, and to deter threats to our sovereignty, independence and society. We will work with our communities to address domestic crimes, and will reform our security forces. We are committed to human rights, justice and the rule of law, and to our non-