A defense deal to be signed this week could see troops from Papua New Guinea (PNG) serve in the Australian military, Canberra said yesterday, the pact seen as an attempt to counter Beijing’s rising Pacific influence.
The fresh defense agreement is scheduled to be signed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape tomorrow in Port Moresby as part of celebrations to mark 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence from Australia.
Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles described the deal as “historic.”
Photo: Reuters
He said Australia’s military had been open to foreign nationals from New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the US since last year.
“At the time we said we would have an eye to the Pacific,” he told national broadcaster Australia Broadcasting Corp.
“The agreement that we will sign with PNG contemplates this,” he said.
“There’s more work to be done in terms of walking down that path, but we certainly are interested in how we can recruit Papua New Guineans directly into the ADF [Australian Defence Force],” Marles added.
The agreement follows an overarching security agreement signed between the two nations in 2023.
Australian media said the deal would enable Papua New Guineans to serve in the ADF with the same pay as other members and start a pathway to citizenship.
Speaking in Port Moresby yesterday, Albanese said the deal was an “upgrade in the relationship and its increased interoperability, its increased engagement and security relationship,” Australia Broadcasting Corp reported.
Asked about concerns the deal could infringe on Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty, he said: “People will get to see the agreement, what Australia does is deal with countries with respect and respect for sovereignty is front and center of that.”
Papua New Guinean Minister for Defence Billy Joseph said the deal “promotes regional security.”
“A secure Papua New Guinea is a secure Australia, and a secure Australia is a secure Papua New Guinea,” Joseph said.
Less than 200km from Australia’s northernmost border, Papua New Guinea is the largest and most populous state in Melanesia.
China has committed billions of dollars to Pacific nations over the past decade, funding hospitals, sports stadiums, roads and other public works.
It is an approach that appears to be paying dividends.
The Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Nauru have all severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China.
Canberra has stepped up its engagement with the region in a bid to counter Beijing’s influence.
Albanese was in Vanuatu last week to discuss a deal aimed at deepening Australia’s links to that Pacific nation.
However, the deal was not signed, with Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat citing concerns that its wording would limit his nation’s ability to access funds for “critical infrastructure” from other countries.
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