The Pukpuk Treaty is because of be signed quickly by PNG Prime Minister James Marape and Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese.
Revealed On 3 Oct 2025
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has authorized a mutual defence treaty with Australia in a significant step ahead for the landmark safety deal.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape introduced in a press release on Thursday that his authorities cupboard had given its approval of the deal, and praised the “elevated” ties with Australia.
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“This displays the depth of belief, historical past, and shared future between our two nations,” Marape stated in a press release.
The Pukpuk Treaty was originally set to be signed in September to coincide with Papua New Guinea’s fiftieth anniversary of independence, however Marape’s cupboard failed to succeed in a quorum.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated on social media that he regarded ahead to signing the treaty and establishing a “formal alliance” with PNG.
The textual content of the Pukpuk Treaty has not been made public, however some particulars have been launched in Marape’s assertion, together with reference to a mutual defence clause, whereas laying out provisions for PNG to modernise its navy capabilities and develop a nationwide reserve drive of three,000 volunteers.
The treaty may even create a path for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve within the Australian Defence Drive, whereas PNG additionally goals to construct up its defence drive to 7,000 troops, in response to Marape’s workplace.
PNG has a inhabitants of greater than 11 million folks and is among the most numerous nations on the planet, in response to the World Financial institution, however it additionally struggles with recurring violence amongst its greater than 10,000 ethnic clans.
Australia assumed management over PNG as a colonial energy in 1902 and administered the nation till 1975, however either side have remained shut since then, in response to Jennifer Parker, an Australian defence professional.
Parker instructed Al Jazeera the treaty seems to be set to codify the 2 nations’ present defence relationship and will earn Australia its first treaty ally in 70 years.
Australia solely has two official allies – america and New Zealand – beneath the 1951 ANZUS treaty, whereas PNG presently has none.
“We gained’t know earlier than we see the specifics of the treaty, however there’s a view it would embody a basic obligation to assist and defend one another,” Parker instructed Al Jazeera.
Justin Bassi, government director of the Australian Strategic Coverage Institute, stated the deal may even pave the way in which for “Australia to deepen its funding in [Papua New Guinea’s] defence sector to fulfill rising challenges.”
The treaty comes at a time when Australia is cautious of China’s rising presence within the Pacific and amid considerations that it may set up a navy base within the area, in response to Parker.
Regardless of Canberra’s considerations, the treaty may even embody provisions to respect “third-party” defence relationships between Port Moresby and different nations, in response to Marape’s workplace.
That phrasing seems to be a tacit reference to China, which is considered one of PNG’s most necessary buying and selling companions and a supply of international direct funding.
The Chinese language embassy in Port Moresby stated in September that PNG ought to “uphold its independence” and never signal a treaty that’s “unique in nature” and restricts it “from cooperating with a 3rd celebration”.
