Australia and Papua New Guinea to Sign Defense Pact Amid Regional Tensions
Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will sign a new defense treaty this week, integrating their armed forces in a significant move to bolster bilateral security cooperation as regional governments contend with China’s expanding influence, reports 24brussels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that he and his Papua New Guinean counterpart, James Marape, will formalize the pact on Wednesday, shortly after commemorating PNG’s 50th independence anniversary from Australia. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is expected to attend the signing ceremony in Port Moresby.
Albanese described the agreement as “a very significant upgrade in our defense relationship,” emphasizing its provision for mutual defense and enhanced interoperability between their respective military forces. “It provides for mutual defense, which means that we will provide support for each other, provide for an integration of our interoperability of our assets and our respective defense forces,” he stated during an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The treaty will enable citizens of both nations to serve in each other’s militaries, with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive for Papua New Guineans who enlist. Prior to this, Australia’s military recruitment had primarily included partners in the Five Eyes intelligence network: the United States, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand.
PNG, with a population of nearly 12 million, ranks as the most populous nation in the Pacific after Australia, which has 27 million. Its geographical and political standing has made it a focal point in the escalating strategic competition within the region. Since 2019, three Pacific island states have switched their recognition from Taiwan to Beijing, and China has enhanced security ties through police training initiatives in several Pacific nations, including Fiji, Kiribati, and Samoa.
The new treaty builds upon an earlier security agreement between Australia and PNG signed in 2023, which faced a six-month delay following PNG’s separate security pact with the United States, inciting public protests over perceived threats to national sovereignty.
Analysts are paying close attention to the language used in the new treaty. Oliver Nobetau, project director of the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network at the Lowy Institute, noted that framing Australia as the “security partner of choice” for PNG would constitute a significant diplomatic achievement for Canberra. However, he pointed out, Pacific states—including PNG—are adamant about safeguarding their sovereignty, necessitating careful wording that does not preclude relationships with other partners.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles indicated that the new treaty will replace an agreement from 1977, calling it “a transformational agreement between ourselves and PNG.” He also mentioned that Australia is looking to deepen defense cooperation with other regional players, notably Fiji and Tonga.
Albanese aimed to finalize a similar security and economic treaty with Vanuatu last week, but discussions have been stalled amid apprehensions within Vanuatu’s government regarding reliance on Chinese infrastructure financing.