Papua New Guinea (PNG) has approved a mutual defence treaty with Australia in a major step forward for the landmark security deal.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape announced in a statement on Thursday that his government cabinet had given its approval of the deal, and praised the “elevated” ties with Australia.
“This reflects the depth of trust, history, and shared future between our two nations,” Marape said in a statement.
The Pukpuk Treaty was originally set to be signed in September to coincide with Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence, but Marape’s cabinet failed to reach a quorum.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on social media that he looked forward to signing the treaty and establishing a “formal alliance” with PNG.
The text of the Pukpuk Treaty has not been made public, but some details were released in Marape’s statement, including reference to a mutual defence clause, while laying out provisions for PNG to modernise its military capabilities and develop a national reserve force of 3,000 volunteers.
The treaty will also create a path for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force, while PNG also aims to build up its defence force to 7,000 troops, according to Marape’s office.
PNG has a population of more than 11 million people and is one of the most diverse countries in the world, according to the World Bank, but it also struggles with recurring violence among its more than 10,000 ethnic clans.
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