The Pukpuk Treaty is because of be signed quickly by PNG Prime Minister James Marape and Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese.
Printed On 3 Oct 2025
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has permitted a mutual defence treaty with Australia in a significant step ahead for the landmark safety deal.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape introduced in a press release on Thursday that his authorities cupboard had given its approval of the deal, and praised the “elevated” ties with Australia.
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“This displays the depth of belief, historical past, and shared future between our two nations,” Marape stated in a press release.
The Pukpuk Treaty was originally set to be signed in September to coincide with Papua New Guinea’s fiftieth anniversary of independence, however Marape’s cupboard failed to succeed in a quorum.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on social media that he regarded ahead to signing the treaty and establishing a “formal alliance” with PNG.
The textual content of the Pukpuk Treaty has not been made public, however some particulars had been launched in Marape’s assertion, together with reference to a mutual defence clause, whereas laying out provisions for PNG to modernise its navy capabilities and develop a nationwide reserve drive of three,000 volunteers.
The treaty will even create a path for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve within the Australian Defence Power, whereas PNG additionally goals to construct up its defence drive to 7,000 troops, in keeping with Marape’s workplace.
PNG has a inhabitants of greater than 11 million individuals and is likely one of the most various nations on the planet, in keeping with the World Financial institution, but it surely additionally struggles with recurring violence amongst its greater than 10,000 ethnic clans.
Australia assumed management over PNG as a colonial energy in 1902 and administered the nation till 1975, however each side have remained shut since then, in keeping with Jennifer Parker, an Australian defence knowledgeable.
Parker instructed Al Jazeera the treaty seems to be set to codify the 2 nations’ current defence relationship and will earn Australia its first treaty ally in 70 years.
Australia solely has two official allies – the US and New Zealand – below the 1951 ANZUS treaty, whereas PNG at present has none.
“We received’t know earlier than we see the specifics of the treaty, however there’s a view it’s going to embody a common obligation to assist and defend one another,” Parker instructed Al Jazeera.
Justin Bassi, government director of the Australian Strategic Coverage Institute, stated the deal will even pave the best way for “Australia to deepen its funding in [Papua New Guinea’s] defence sector to satisfy rising challenges.”
The treaty comes at a time when Australia is cautious of China’s rising presence within the Pacific and amid issues that it might set up a navy base within the area, in keeping with Parker.
Regardless of Canberra’s issues, the treaty will even embody provisions to respect “third-party” defence relationships between Port Moresby and different nations, in keeping with Marape’s workplace.
That phrasing seems to be a tacit reference to China, which is considered one of PNG’s most vital buying and selling companions and a supply of overseas direct funding.
The Chinese language embassy in Port Moresby stated in September that PNG ought to “uphold its independence” and never signal a treaty that’s “unique in nature” and restricts it “from cooperating with a 3rd social gathering”.
