PNG cabinet approves terms of a mutual defence treaty with Australia
Papua New Guinea’s Cabinet has approved the terms of a long-awaited mutual defence treaty with Australia, weeks after leaders from both countries were delayed from signing the document.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had hoped to finalise the historic agreement earlier this month while joining official celebrations for the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence.
A scheduled signing fell through at the last moment because not enough PNG ministers were able to attend a cabinet meeting that coincided with independence celebrations, meaning a hastily drafted communique was agreed to instead.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The breakthrough on Wednesday, first reported by The Australian, involved an “absolute majority” of PNG Prime Minister James Marape’s cabinet agreeing to the proposed Pukpuk Treaty.
In a social media post on Thursday PNG’s Defence Minister Billy Joseph wrote: “Peace must be achieved through strength. No nation must be at its knees begging for mercy when it comes to matters of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Military strength is achieved through conscious investment in our defence forces balanced by our strategic security alliances.”
Ahead of the PNG Prime Minister’s formal announcement, an Albanese government spokesperson said the Pukpuk Treaty “will elevate our relationship with PNG to an Alliance – the first in over 70 years and only our third overall”.
“It puts our relationship with PNG on the same level as we have with the United States and New Zealand and builds on the already strong bonds between our defence forces, our economies and our people.”
Under the agreement defence personnel from both nations would be allowed to serve in each other’s militaries, opening up a potential pathway to eventual citizenship.
News of the breakthrough in PNG came as Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles is in Fiji to meet with his counterpart Pio Tikoduadua to discuss the security and defence partnership with that Pacific nation.
Before leaving Australia Mr Marles declared he was “confident” the signing of the PNG defence treaty would occur “in the very near future”.
More to come...
