SYDNEY, Oct 2 — The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Cabinet has approved a defence treaty with Australia, Prime Minister James Marape said today, as Canberra seeks to block China from expanding its security presence in the Pacific.
Under the Pukpuk Defence Treaty, Australia and Papua are obliged to come to each other’s aid if attacked.
"Australia has only one other mutual defence treaty of this type, and at our request, Papua New Guinea will now sign this treaty.
"This reflects the depth of trust, history, and shared future between our two nations," Marape said in a statement.
It would also allow as many as 10,000 PNG citizens to serve with the Australian Defence Force, under dual arrangements.
The landmark treaty still requires ratification from both nations' Parliaments.
The agreement was supposed to have been approved when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Port Moresby during the celebrations of PNG’s 50th independence anniversary two weeks ago.
The two countries agreed on a joint communique on the text of the pact, after a meeting of PNG’s Cabinet lacked the quorum required to ratify it.
Albanese also travelled to Vanuatu last month but failed to secure an AU$500 million (RM1.39 billion) security partnership because a coalition partner in the Vanuatu government called for further scrutiny.
Australia has sought to use the security deals to counter Chinese influence in the region, following China's signing of a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
The United States struck a defence pact with PNG in 2023 to counter China's security ambitions.
The Pukpuk Treaty also recognises that both PNG and Australia can maintain defence relationships with other nations,
"Provisions are in place to respect third-party relationships," Marape said.
