Five police officers took part in a special training exercise with France’s Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAPF), as part of the Pacific Academy.

The training course entitled “Security Forces Course (SFC)” took place from 13 to 25 April 2026.

This initiative formed part of a strengthened cooperation framework with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and aimed to enhance the capabilities of local security forces.

“This two-week course, supervised by the Pacific Marine Infantry Regiment – Polynesia (RIMaP-P), offered a multidisciplinary program focused on essential security force skills. Combining theoretical instruction with practical exercises, Samoan trainees took part in pistol shooting, first aid, close-quarters operations training, suspect control techniques, and presentations on the use of drones for search, surveillance, and investigative operations. Training in signaling procedures and the handling of intervention dogs was also included,” said the French Embassy in Samoa.

“The objective was to improve the operational skills of the trainees while fostering interoperability among participating nations. The Pacific Academy, jointly supported by the armed forces in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, was designed to complement existing regional training programs, particularly in the fields of security and emergency response, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). This course followed on from a similar session organized in December 2025 for Kiribati.”

This training marked a new step in cooperation between France and Samoa, in line with France’s commitments to stability and security in the South Pacific.

The Pacific Academy – an initiative launched by the President of the French Republic in 2023 to   strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific – regularly provide training for military personnel and security   forces from partner Oceanian states. Its objective is to develop shared expertise in security-related fields   while strengthening ties among regional forces.