Cook Islands is a self-governing island state in free association with New Zealand. It is located in the South Pacific between Samoa and French Polynesia, around 3,000km north-east of New Zealand. The country is made up of 15 small islands with a land area of 256 km2 spread out over 200,000 km2 of ocean. The total population is approximately 14,000 (Jan 2024) with over 10,000 people living on the principal island of Rarotonga. The Cook Islands is a parliamentary democracy, led by a Prime Minister, who is elected by members of the Cook Islands Parliament, known as the "Palemia."  The Nation has a small but resilient economy driven mainly by tourism. Seafood, particularly tuna, is the largest export and a staple diet for the local people.   

After the Cook Islands gained self-governance status in 1965, New Zealand took on the primary responsibility for the country's defence.  Over the years, New Zealand has engaged in various joint exercises and training programs with Cook Islands police and security forces to enhance local capabilities. In 2022, a trilateral security agreement was signed between Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands focusing on enhancing maritime security, disaster response, and capacity building for local law enforcement agencies.