PNG defence pact with Canberra to frustrate Beijing

Australia and Papua New Guinea will expand military co-operation under a new bilateral defence treaty, frustrating Beijing’s ambitions to secure a strategic foothold to Australia’s north.

Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape shake hands during a walk along the Kokoda Track last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire via PMO

Australia and Papua New Guinea will expand military co-operation under a new bilateral defence treaty, frustrating China’s ambitions to secure a strategic foothold to Australia’s north.

Negotiations on the new agreement will get underway on Thursday when Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles hosts his PNG counterpart Billy Joseph in Brisbane.

It will create a framework for the nation’s defence forces to co-operate across all areas of security, and is likely to open the way for a greater Australian military presence in PNG.

Port Moresby has agreed to work towards the treaty-level agreement despite its reluctance last year to give the same status to a bilateral security agreement to help PNG’s stretched police force deal with surging crime and violence.

The move follows Canberra’s green light for a $600m plan to establish a PNG NRL team, with the investment by Australian taxpayers contingent on ongoing “strategic trust” between the countries.

The new defence treaty will expand the countries’ 1977 status of forces agreement that sets the parameters for the ADF’s activities in PNG, reflecting the growing integration of the nations’ militaries.

It is expected to bolster Australian training of PNG Defence Force personnel, expand joint exercises, and formalise arrangements for Australian support to PNG following natural disasters.

“I look forward to taking our defence relationship to the next level through a new defence treaty,’ Mr Marles said.

“The shared ambition for a treaty-level agreement would expand and modernise Australia and Papua New Guinea’s defence relationship and facilitate deeper integration.

“Practically, a treaty would make it easier for Australia and PNG to support each other’s security, and contribute to the collective security of the region.”

Richard Marles during a visit to PNG. Picture: Supplied

Australia and PNG already enjoy close defence ties, with more than 1000 personnel from both countries participating in joint training and exercises in 2024.

Senior PNG personnel also serve in trusted roles in the ADF, including Colonel Boniface Aruma, the Deputy Commander of the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade in Townsville.

The ADF also provided assistance to PNG following last year’s devastating Enga landslide.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said at the announcement of the NRL deal in December that his country had taken a deliberate decision to make Australia its “security partner of choice”.

“That doesn’t stop us from relating with any nation, especially our Asian neighbours,’ he said.

“We relate with China, for instance, a great trading partner, a great bilateral partner. But in security, closer to home, we have the synergy and our shared territory needs to be protected, defended, policed.”

Under the bilateral security agreement signed last year, Australia agreed to build new police facilities, deliver a new police vessel, and support recruitment, training and forensics initiatives.

It followed unsuccessful efforts by Beijing to secure its own policing deal with Port Moresby.

Australia is also supporting the development of PNG’s critical infrastructure to ensure it doesn’t need loans from China, lending $95m through the taxpayer-funded Pacific bank to upgrade the country’s third largest port.