Australia and Papua New Guinea are set to announce the launch of negotiations for a defense treaty on Thursday, a move that could have significant implications for national security and the strategic landscape of the Pacific region. This announcement comes 14 months after the two countries signed a landmark security agreement, and three months after they inked a $600 million deal to provide Papua New Guinea with its own National Rugby League (NRL) team in exchange for strategic assurances aimed at deterring China.
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02-23, 2025Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Papua New Guinea Defence Minister Billy Joseph will formally launch the latest round of negotiations in Brisbane on Thursday morning. Facing ongoing pressure from Beijing, Australia is actively strengthening its defense relationships in the Pacific region. Marles said in a statement that he hopes to elevate the defense relationship with Papua New Guinea to the "next level" through a formal treaty.
"A shared desire to reach a treaty-level agreement will expand and modernize the Australia-Papua New Guinea defense relationship and promote deeper integration," Marles said. "In effect, a treaty would make it easier for Australia and Papua New Guinea to support each other’s security and contribute to the collective security of the region." While no timeline has been finalized for the new agreement negotiations, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) understands that both countries are eager to reach an agreement quickly.
Australia has a deep and long-standing defense relationship with Papua New Guinea and is already increasing assistance to Papua New Guinea's police, justice sector, and military under the 2023 Defense Agreement, which came into effect late last year. That agreement already stipulates that Papua New Guinea and Australia will consult and coordinate with each other if they face a security threat. But analysts say a binding treaty would solidify Australia's position as Papua New Guinea's primary security partner, creating another obstacle for China's attempts to reach its own policing agreement with Port Moresby.
Australia may find it difficult to secure political support for the new treaty in Papua New Guinea, as Papua New Guinea's constitution requires strict parliamentary scrutiny and approval of international treaties. Mihai Sora of the Lowy Institute said that Australia scaled back its defense agreement with Papua New Guinea in the same year, so that it was no longer a treaty-level agreement. He told the ABC that he was unsure what had changed to remove what was considered an "insurmountable obstacle" two years ago.
Sora stated that "there is no doubt that the Cook Islands-China-New Zealand debacle sent shivers down the spines of many in Canberra" and solidified its determination to reach clear agreements with Pacific nations such as Papua New Guinea. "In the current period of global and regional strategic uncertainty, it is wise for Australia to seek to cover all bases, even legal ones," he said. "Unfortunately, judging from recent deals, Papua New Guinea may demand an eye-watering price."
