Sydney: Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have reaffirmed their security partnership with the signing of a defense communiqué, even as the much-anticipated mutual defense treaty remains stuck in procedural hurdles. The agreement, while short of a formal treaty, signals both nations’ determination to deepen cooperation in a region increasingly shaped by great-power rivalry.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape met in Port Moresby with the expectation of finalising a landmark mutual defence treaty. However, PNG’s cabinet failed to achieve the quorum required for formal approval, forcing both sides to settle on a communiqué as an interim measure.
The signed document acknowledges that an armed attack on either country would endanger the peace and security of both, underscoring their intent to act in mutual defence. But unlike a treaty, the communiqué lacks legal force, leaving full implementation dependent on cabinet and parliamentary ratification in both capitals.
The planned treaty is being closely watched as it would represent Australia’s first new alliance of its kind in over 70 years, signalling a historic deepening of ties with its closest neighbour. Canberra has been actively pursuing stronger security arrangements across the Pacific amid concerns over China’s expanding influence, most visibly in the Solomon Islands.
For Papua New Guinea, whose vast landmass and extensive maritime borders present daunting defense challenges, Australia is increasingly seen as its “security partner of choice.” Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that PNG cannot defend itself alone and stressed the importance of cementing its alliance with Australia.
At the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Albanese described the communiqué as a “significant step forward” and voiced confidence that the treaty would eventually be formalised. He noted that the agreement would bring Australia-PNG relations to a level comparable with Canberra’s alliances with other long-standing partners.
Prime Minister Marape, for his part, emphasised that while cabinet rules had delayed the treaty, the intent of both nations was clear. “We are committed to standing together in times of need,” he said, adding that the treaty’s formal approval was a matter of “when, not if.”
The move carries weight far beyond Port Moresby and Canberra. The Pacific has emerged as a key arena in global geopolitics, with external powers competing for influence. Analysts view the Australia-PNG arrangement as a critical counterbalance to China’s growing security footprint in the region. The communiqué signals to allies and rivals alike that both nations are aligned in protecting shared interests.
The treaty now awaits cabinet approval in PNG and subsequent parliamentary processes in both countries before it can be fully enacted. In the meantime, the communiqué allows for immediate steps, including intelligence sharing, joint training, and operational coordination between the two militaries.
For both nations, the delay is a reminder that even strategic urgency must contend with domestic political processes. Yet the communiqué ensures momentum is not lost, keeping alive the momentum toward what could become one of the most consequential defense partnerships in the Pacific.