London, UK
In a landmark move, Australia and Papua New Guinea have finalized a new mutual defense treaty, strengthening their security ties in the face of what both nations are calling “emerging threats” in the Indo-Pacific. The agreement, expected to be signed on Wednesday during Papua New Guinea’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations, is a significant step in countering China’s growing influence in the region.
The treaty, the first of its kind for Papua New Guinea, is designed to elevate the security partnership between the two countries to a new level. According to a copy of the agreement seen by AFP, it commits both nations to “defend each other from armed attacks.” The pact outlines that an armed attack on either party would be “dangerous to each other’s peace and security” and that both sides would “act to meet the common danger, in accordance with its constitutional processes.” This language has been compared to NATO’s Article 4, which obliges members to consult when a security threat arises.
A key feature of the treaty is the plan to “totally integrate” the two nations’ military forces. Papua New Guinea’s Defence Minister Billy Joseph stated that this integration goes beyond simple interoperability, envisioning the two forces “working together closely, using the same equipment fighting together, defending our sovereignties as an integrated force.” This level of military integration is unprecedented between the two nations and reflects a deep-seated commitment to shared security.
The treaty also includes a groundbreaking provision that allows citizens of both nations to serve in the other’s armed forces. This initiative is particularly significant for Papua New Guinea, as service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) could provide a pathway to Australian citizenship. For Australia, which recently opened its military to citizens of its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners, the move to recruit from Papua New Guinea is a clear signal of its strategic priority on regional relationships.
This historic agreement comes at a crucial time, as the Pacific region has become a key arena for geopolitical competition between Beijing and Washington and its allies. Australia has been working to enhance its security ties with Pacific island nations to prevent them from entering into similar pacts with China, as seen with the security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands in 2022. While some lawmakers in Papua New Guinea have expressed concern that the treaty could undermine the nation’s “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign policy, Defence Minister Joseph has affirmed that the deal promotes regional security and respects his country’s sovereignty.
The signing of the treaty is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a tangible commitment to collective security that has been described as a “transformation” of the bilateral relationship, laying the foundation for deeper ties over the next half-century.
Headline Points
* Historic Mutual Defense Pact: Australia and Papua New Guinea have finalized a mutual defense treaty, committing to defend each other in the event of an armed attack.
* Military Integration: The deal aims for a “totally integrated” force, going beyond mere cooperation to share equipment and resources.
* Pathway to Citizenship: The agreement includes a provision that allows Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian military and a potential pathway to citizenship.
* Countering China’s Influence: The treaty is a clear move by Australia to strengthen its security ties with a key Pacific partner and counter Beijing’s growing presence in the region.
* Transformative Partnership: The agreement is seen as a significant upgrade to the relationship, setting a new standard for bilateral security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
