AUSTRALIA and Papua New Guinea have formalised a landmark mutual defence treaty, a move the two governments cast as a major upgrade in security ties and a new phase in the relationships between the Pacific neighbours.
Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape announced the entry into force of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, after the sixth Annual Leaders’ Dialogue in Brisbane.
The agreement gives Papua New Guinea its first alliance and marks Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years, according to the joint statement.
The leaders said the treaty rests on “a high degree of strategic trust, mutual respect, commitment to sovereignty and equal partnership.”
Marape said the pact was a demonstration of PNG’s “sovereign choice” and that it preserved the integrity of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, which “will always report to its own Commander.”
Albanese praised Marape’s “visionary leadership” in proposing the treaty, saying it would “safeguard sovereignty, enhance national resilience and strengthen security” for both countries and the wider Pacific.
The leaders said the deal would deepen cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the PNG Defence Force, including through a joint taskforce on recruitment of PNG citizens into the ADF.
They also discussed the prospect of young Papua New Guineans building careers in the Australian military.
The treaty comes against a backdrop of growing concern in the Pacific over strategic competition and regional instability.
In their statement, the leaders said they were committed to keeping the Pacific “an Ocean of Peace.”
They rejected actions “that were destabilising and which undermined the peace, security and stability of the Pacific and the region.”
Australia has already been helping PNG with internal security priorities, including new police barracks in Mount Hagen, Kokopo and Port Moresby and the gifting of two Bell 412 helicopters for police work in remote areas.
The leaders also welcomed Papua New Guinea’s leadership in the Pacific Policing Initiative and its hosting of the region’s first Regional Centre of Excellence for Recruits and Investigations at Bomana.
Bilateral Ties Strengthened
Beyond defence, the dialogue underscored the depth of the bilateral relationship across trade, development and labour mobility.
The leaders said two-way trade reached $10 billion in 2025 and pointed to efforts to diversify commerce, improve market integration and support PNG’s regional trade links.
Marape welcomed Australia’s backing for PNG’s economy, infrastructure and development agenda, while Albanese highlighted Canberra’s support for roads, ports, telecommunications, energy and health systems.
The statement also said Australia was helping PNG strengthen services to tackle tuberculosis, HIV and polio, train health workers and expand health infrastructure.
The leaders reflected on labour mobility as another key pillar of the relationship, noting the role of PNG workers in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
Marape said remittances were an important economic driver for PNG and welcomed efforts to expand the scheme’s skills benefits and support returning workers.
The two prime ministers also welcomed progress on a planned Papua New Guinean National Rugby League franchise, the PNG Chiefs. They said the initiative would strengthen pathways from grassroots to elite sport and deepen the social ties between the countries.
On climate change, they said the Pacific faced “human security” risks from a warming planet and backed Pacific-led efforts ahead of COP31.
Marape said international carbon market frameworks should move beyond “abstract conceptual phases” so forests could be rewarded and rainforest conservation treated as “an international public utility.”
The leaders said regular high-level engagement would continue through ministerial and official channels to implement the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership, the Bilateral Security Agreement, the Development Partnership Plan and the new defence treaty.
