Pukpuk treaty commits the 2 neighbours to larger army cooperation, though the textual content is but to be launched.
Revealed On 6 Oct 2025
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape have signed a mutual defence treaty in Canberra, with the leaders saying the textual content of the settlement will likely be accessible quickly.
Marape advised reporters on Monday within the Australian capital that the treaty was drawn up “out of geography, historical past and the enduring actuality of our shared neighbourhood”.
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“It’s about one larger fence that secures two homes that has its personal yard area,” Marape mentioned, in accordance with the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).
The Papua New Guinean chief disagreed that the pact was drawn up as a result of broader geopolitical points, in an obvious reference to the army pursuits of nations like China and the USA within the Pacific area.
“This treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or every other motive,” Marape mentioned.
“We keep friendships to all enemies, we advocate peace wherever we interact, in so far as overseas relations concern,” PNG’s chief added.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned that the treaty “makes very express” that there will likely be “interoperability” between the 2 neighbouring international locations’ “defence belongings”, including that “our biggest asset is our individuals”.
The ABC reported that this meant the 2 international locations would share the identical rights as present members of the 5 Eyes settlement, which Australia shares with Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US.
Marape’s workplace mentioned final week that the settlement will create a path for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve within the Australian Defence Pressure, as his nation additionally goals to construct up its personal defence drive to 7,000 troops.
Papua New Guinea has a inhabitants of some 12 million individuals, of which about 40 % dwell under the poverty line, in stark distinction to its richer neighbour, Australia.
The signing of the Pukpuk treaty comes weeks after Papua New Guinea celebrated 50 years of independence from Australia, which assumed management of its northern neighbour as a colonial energy in 1902, after each international locations had been colonised by the UK.
In August 2013, Australia signed a memorandum of understanding with Papua New Guinea, which noticed 1000’s of migrants arriving in Australia by boat detained on Manus Island in offshore detention.
The controversial detention centre closed in 2017, leaving lots of of refugees stranded.
Australia can be looking for to signal a safety settlement with Fiji, after an identical settlement overlaying each safety and local weather change with Vanuatu stalled final month.
Australia additionally just lately signed a landmark treaty with Tuvalu, the world’s first settlement providing visas to assist individuals going through displacement as a result of local weather disaster to resettle.
Local weather change stays a key safety concern for a lot of international locations within the area, with Australia bidding to host the 2026 UN COP local weather change assembly, alongside its Pacific neighbours.
The bid has but to materialise as Turkiye can be formally campaigning to host the identical assembly.
