Papua New Guinea Cabinet Approves Landmark Defense Pact with Australia

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea's cabinet has given its formal approval to a landmark security treaty with Australia, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral defense ties. The agreement, known as the 'Pukpuk mutual defence treaty,' was confirmed by Prime Minister James Marape on Thursday, October 3, 2025, following a cabinet meeting.

Elevating the Bilateral Relationship

The newly approved treaty is set to elevate the relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia to a formal alliance, a first for Australia since the ANZUS agreement was signed in 1951. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the approval, stating, 'Our two nations are the closest of neighbours and the closest of friends, and this treaty will elevate our relationship to a formal alliance.' Prime Minister Marape emphasized the historical significance, noting, 'This reflects the depth of trust, history, and shared future between our two nations.'

Key Provisions of the Pukpuk Treaty

The 'Pukpuk mutual defence treaty' includes several core provisions designed to enhance security cooperation and capacity building:

• Mutual Defense Obligation: Both countries are required to come to the aid of the other in the event of a military attack.
• Personnel Exchange: The treaty allows citizens of both nations to serve in the defense force of the other.
• ADF Recruitment Pathway: It creates a pathway for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with potential for Australian citizenship.
• PNG Defence Force Modernization: Papua New Guinea aims to expand its own defense force to 7,000 troops and develop a reserve force of 3,000 volunteers.
• Enhanced Cooperation: The agreement outlines steps to modernize PNG's defense capacity across naval, air, and land domains, including joint military training, defense exercises, and cooperation on cybersecurity preparedness.

The treaty is intended to strengthen PNG's security and defense capacities, ensuring the nation is 'safe, secure, and prepared to protect its people and borders,' according to Prime Minister Marape.

Strategic Context and Previous Delays

The defense pact is widely seen as a strategic move by Australia to counter China's growing influence in the Pacific region. Australia has been actively seeking to bolster relations with Pacific island nations following China's security deal with the Solomon Islands in 2022.

The signing of the treaty was initially anticipated during Prime Minister Albanese's visit to Port Moresby for PNG's 50th independence anniversary in September, but it was delayed due to political complications and a lack of cabinet quorum within the PNG government. Despite the earlier setback, both leaders expressed confidence in the agreement's eventual approval. The treaty now awaits ratification by the parliaments of both Australia and Papua New Guinea.