Australia and Papua New Guinea Sign Landmark Defense Pact

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ustralia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have signed a landmark defense treaty that will allow Australian troops access to PNG military bases and enable up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve in Australia’s armed forces, in what analysts describe as a major step to counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

The agreement — formally named the Pukpuk Treaty, after the Tok Pisin word for crocodile — commits the two close neighbors to come to each other’s aid if either faces an armed attack. It also deepens cooperation across defense, cyber, and maritime domains, marking the most significant security partnership between Canberra and Port Moresby in decades.

The signing took place at Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, with Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape hailing the deal as a new chapter in regional partnership built on “mutual trust and shared destiny.”

“By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security,” Albanese said at a joint news conference. “This treaty strengthens our collective resilience and ensures the Pacific remains peaceful, stable, and prosperous.”

Marape, for his part, stressed that the deal was not a product of geopolitical rivalry but of a longstanding friendship between the two countries. “We have told China clearly that Australia is our security partner of choice, and they understand this,” he said. “Our broader relations with China — in trade and investment — remain intact and transparent.”

A treaty with ‘bite’

According to excerpts published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the treaty describes an armed attack on either nation as “dangerous to the peace and security of the other,” pledging both to “act to meet the common danger.”

Nicknamed the Pukpuk or “Crocodile” Treaty, the pact symbolizes strength and mutual defense readiness. “Like a crocodile, it has bite — its bite force speaks of the interoperability and preparedness of our forces,” said PNG Defense Minister Billy Joseph.

The agreement will allow the full integration of Australian and PNG forces through annual joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and expanded training programs. It also extends cooperation into cybersecurity, electromagnetic warfare, and maritime surveillance, areas where both countries face increasing challenges.

Countering Beijing’s growing reach

While both leaders framed the treaty as a natural extension of bilateral friendship, experts say it is clearly aimed at limiting China’s influence in the region.

“China will not have the same access to infrastructure in PNG as it does in other Pacific Islands,” said Oliver Nobetau, project director of the Lowy Institute’s Australia–PNG Network. “This deal ensures that Port Moresby’s key facilities remain under the purview of its trusted regional partner — Australia.”

China has expanded its presence across the Pacific in recent years, establishing security and policing agreements with Solomon Islands and Kiribati, and investing heavily in ports, data cables, and government buildings across the region.

In response, Canberra has accelerated its own regional outreach. In the past two years, Australia has signed major security and development deals with Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, committing more than A$500 million to policing, cyber infrastructure, and climate resilience projects.

“Canberra is positioning itself as the Pacific’s primary security guarantor,” said Anna Powles, a security studies expert at Massey University in New Zealand. “The Pukpuk Treaty gives Australia a central role in a new ‘hub-and-spokes’ defense system across the Pacific.”

Boost for PNG’s military and Australia’s manpower

One of the most notable aspects of the deal is the provision allowing up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve in Australia’s military, with the option to apply for Australian citizenship after service. Analysts say the arrangement could help alleviate Australia’s military recruitment shortages while providing PNG citizens with new professional and economic opportunities.

“Australia’s defense force has struggled to meet recruitment targets for years,” said Nobetau. “PNG, with its young and able population, can fill that gap — and in return, its soldiers will receive world-class training and prospects for citizenship.”

PNG’s army, long under-resourced, will also benefit from modernization and joint training programs funded by Canberra. “This will bring a significant boost in both material and morale terms,” said Powles. “It helps PNG professionalize its defense forces and gives it a clearer role in regional security.”

Despite strong backing from both governments, the treaty has stirred debate within PNG about its implications for national sovereignty and foreign policy independence.

Former PNG Defense Force commander Jerry Singirok warned last month that the treaty “could come at a high cost” if it aligns PNG too closely with Western defense strategies. “China is not our enemy,” Singirok said. “While it’s important to maintain security cooperation with Australia, we must ensure our sovereignty and neutrality are respected.”

PNG’s foreign policy has long been based on the principle of being “friends to all, enemies to none.” Critics worry the treaty could be seen as taking sides in the strategic rivalry between Beijing and Washington — especially after the Trump administration’s sharp reduction of U.S. aid to the Pacific under its “America First” policy.

Powles also cautioned that both sides need “greater clarity on expectations and commitments.” “PNG will want assurances that this partnership remains mutually beneficial and not simply an extension of Australian foreign policy,” she said.