PNG Cabinet Approves Pukpuk Defence Treaty

Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved the Pukpuk defence treaty with Australia, a mutual-defence pact leaders say will elevate the countries’ security relationship to its highest level and is expected to be signed soon by Prime Ministers James Marape and Anthony Albanese. The treaty contains a mutual-defence clause obliging each nation to aid the other if attacked and is being framed as Australia’s first new formal alliance in about 70 years. It includes capacity-building measures to modernise PNG’s armed forces, create a 3,000-strong national reserve and aim for a larger defence force (reports cite about 7,000), and provides pathways for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force under dual arrangements. The agreement still requires parliamentary ratification in both countries; its signing was delayed during PNG’s 50th independence events after the cabinet lacked a quorum. Officials say the pact preserves PNG’s ability to maintain other international defence relationships and reflects deepening trust between the neighbours amid regional strategic competition.