Australia, Papua New Guinea Hold Off on Security Agreement
(MENAFN) Australia's much-anticipated security agreement with Papua New Guinea (PNG) was delayed on Wednesday, with both countries indicating that it would be finalized after internal Cabinet procedures are completed.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, currently in Port Moresby, had been expected to sign the Mutual Defense Treaty alongside his counterpart, James Marape, but that will now be postponed.
In a joint statement, the leaders confirmed they had agreed on the terms of the treaty, dubbed the Pukpuk Treaty, but clarified that the official signing will occur once Cabinet processes are finalized in both nations.
"The signing of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty – the Pukpuk Treaty – will elevate the defense relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia to an alliance," the statement read.
While Marape did not voice any direct concerns regarding the delay or the pact itself, he noted that his defense minister would soon visit multiple nations, including China and Indonesia, to provide clarification on the treaty’s objectives.
Earlier, Albanese attributed the delay to the unavailability of PNG’s Cabinet, which was unable to convene due to ministers being occupied with Independence Day celebrations in their home provinces. He expressed confidence, however, that the process would proceed smoothly once the Cabinet reconvenes.
The treaty is seen as a critical part of Australia's strategy to counter China's growing presence and influence in the Pacific region.
Under the proposed agreement, both nations would acknowledge that an armed attack on one country would threaten the peace and security of both. The treaty also seeks to modernize and expand defense cooperation, enhance interoperability, and open a recruitment channel for PNG citizens to join the Australian Defense Force.
In a similar move earlier this month, Vanuatu delayed a security and development deal with Australia, citing concerns over Chinese-funded projects.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
