Australia enters new partnership with PNG in virtual summit
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his PNG counterpart have agreed to strengthen security co-operation and boost trade and investment opportunities.
Australia and Papua New Guinea will negotiate a bilateral security treaty, as the Morrison government looks to send a “clear signal” to China and cement plans for the development of a joint naval base on Manus Island.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his PNG counterpart, James Marape, agreed during a virtual summit on Wednesday to strengthen security co-operation and boost bilateral trade and investment opportunities under a new Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership.
The CSEP agreement substantially elevates the relationship between Australia and its nearest neighbour, and is only the fifth such agreement Australia has signed.
The leaders agreed the proposed bilateral security treaty would provide a framework “for expanding our co-operation in the future”.
“It will send a clear signal of the enduring bond and partnership between Australia and PNG,” a briefing on the talks said.
The announcement comes amid growing Chinese influence in PNG, and local concerns over the redevelopment of Manus Island’s Lombrum naval base with Australia and the US.
Mr Morrison said on Twitter he enjoyed “a warm discussion today with my good friend”, referring to Mr Marape.
“Our two countries are family and share a unique bond,” he said, adding the Lombrum base was discussed.
The summit followed a speech by Mr Morrison to a US security conference declaring the building an Indo-Pacific alliance with like-minded nations would be a “critical priority” for his government.
Mr Marape has been under pressure to announce a review of the 2019 memorandum of understanding to redevelop the Lombrum base as a joint facility.
For Australia, the Lombrum agreement was aimed at denying China a strategic foothold in PNG, and providing a forward operating base with a commanding view of maritime approaches from Asia.
But Manus’ Limondorol Clan and provincial Governor Charlie Benjamin have vowed to prevent Australian-appointed contractors from entering the base which they say was never signed over to the PNG government and remains customary land.
Former PNG prime minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu recently warned plans for the joint base could be inconsistent with the country’s “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign policy.
Sir Rabbie said he was concerned PNG could be drawn into a regional conflict under its deal to transform the base into a joint facility.
Mr Morrison committed during Wednesday’s talks to building a new solar plant in PNG’s Markham Valley in the first investment through the government’s Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific.
Australia will also fund new technical and vocational training in PNG under a $45m commitment to build the country’s skills base, and boost investment in the bilateral Defence Cooperation Program by $6.5m this year.
The CSEP follows similar agreements with India, China, Singapore and Indonesia.
The announcements come days after the arrival of an Australian Medical Assistance Team in PNG to help the nation flight a wave of COVID-19 infections with on-the-ground assessment of suspected cases, and support for infection control, triage and emergency management, and laboratory practices.
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