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 accredited 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 an announcement 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 an announcement.
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 appeared 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 will even create a path for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve within the Australian Defence Power, whereas PNG additionally goals to construct up its defence drive to 7,000 troops, in line with Marape’s workplace.
PNG has a inhabitants of greater than 11 million individuals and is without doubt one of the most numerous international locations on the earth, in line with the World Financial institution, nevertheless 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 line with Jennifer Parker, an Australian defence knowledgeable.
Parker informed Al Jazeera the treaty seems set to codify the 2 international locations’ current defence relationship and will earn Australia its first treaty ally in 70 years.
Australia solely has two official allies – america and New Zealand – below the 1951 ANZUS treaty, whereas PNG at present has none.
“We gained’t know earlier than we see the specifics of the treaty, however there’s a view it would embrace a basic obligation to help and defend one another,” Parker informed Al Jazeera.
Justin Bassi, govt director of the Australian Strategic Coverage Institute, stated the deal will even pave the best way 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 issues that it might set up a navy base within the area, in line with Parker.
Regardless of Canberra’s issues, the treaty will even embrace provisions to respect “third-party” defence relationships between Port Moresby and different international locations, in line with 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 get together”.
