On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India conducted a summit with leaders from Pacific Island nations in Papua New Guinea. Additionally, the U.S. Secretary of State was slated to meet the leaders later in the day and finalize a defense agreement with Papua New Guinea.

During his opening speech at the summit, Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea (PNG) acknowledged India as the leader of the Global South, a term used to describe certain low and middle-income countries. He expressed concern that their people had been left behind. In response, Prime Minister Modi assured the 14 leaders of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation that India would be a dependable partner for small island states, particularly during challenges arising from supply chain disruptions and climate change. Modi emphasized India's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Prior to the summit, Modi took to social media to share that he had engaged in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Marape, focusing on ways to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, healthcare, and addressing climate change.

In the afternoon, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is anticipated to finalize a Defence Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Concurrently, he will conduct a meeting with leaders from Pacific Island nations. The U.S. government, in collaboration with PNG, has committed to bolstering economic and security cooperation.

As part of this partnership, Washington will allocate $45 million in new funds. These funds will support various initiatives, including the provision of protective equipment for the PNG defense force, efforts to mitigate climate change, and the joint efforts in combating transnational crime and addressing the challenges of HIV/AIDS. The U.S. State Department provided this information.

According to the PNG Post Courier, Admiral John Aquino, the United States Commander for the Indo-Pacific Command, attended a ceremony at Murray Barracks in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday. During the event, he presented personal protective equipment to PNG's defense force.

Prime Minister Marape, in a statement to the media on Sunday, mentioned that the defense agreement would result in an increased U.S. military presence in the region over the next ten years.

To ensure security during the significant gathering of international leaders, including the largest assembly since the 2018 APEC summit, there was a notable presence of police and military personnel in the capital city of Port Moresby. Road blockades were implemented, and defense patrol boats were deployed in the surrounding waters, as stated by Police Commissioner David Manning.

Protests took place at various university campuses as a response to the signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, with concerns raised about potential repercussions with China. Prime Minister Marape dismissed the notion that the agreement would hinder PNG's collaboration with China, an important trade partner.

China has been a significant contributor to infrastructure development in the Pacific Islands in recent times. Last year, China signed a security pact with Solomon Islands, which raised apprehensions among the United States and its allies regarding Beijing's intentions in a region that encompasses crucial sea lanes.

According to the PNG government's earlier statements, the U.S. defence agreement aims to enhance PNG's defense infrastructure and capabilities, which have been neglected for decades.

In Port Moresby, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated to reporters that the defence agreement between the United States and Papua New Guinea (PNG) represents an extension of an already existing relationship. He emphasized that the agreement goes beyond military presence and encompasses development aspects as well.

Furthermore, according to a statement by the PNG government on Monday, Secretary Blinken is set to sign a Ship Riders Pact. This agreement will enable U.S. Coast Guard vessels to patrol PNG's exclusive economic zone with PNG officials on board.