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Australia will gain access to the Papua New Guinean military facilities and soldiers under a freshly signed deal that will see both nations provide mutual defense if an armed conflict occurs.

“Our primary security collaboration is with Australia, a stance that is acknowledged... No other diplomatic ties have been affected,” affirmed PNG's Prime Minister.

The pact will permit a maximum of 10,000 PNG citizens to enlist in the Australian Defence Force. They will also have the opportunity to obtain Australian citizenship.

Treaty Details

Dubbed the Pukpuk Pact (which translates to "crocodile" in PNG pidgin), the bilateral agreement is the newest in a succession of treaties concluded among countries in the Pacific and powers competing for a defence footprint in the Pacific zone.

The pact possesses significant force and, in the manner of this predator, its bite force demonstrates the interoperability and preparedness of the military for hostilities.

An armed attack on any signatory would be “a risk to mutual safety” so both should “act to meet the common danger”.

Deeper Partnership

The deal also included greater collaboration around online security and electromagnetic warfare.

Earlier, the PNG Defence Minister said that the deal would mean that Australian and PNG forces would be “completely unified”.

• First, to limit external influence in Papua New Guinea by guaranteeing it does not have the equivalent entry to facilities.
• Second, to address the nation's recent struggles enlisting new personnel.
• Finally, the pact also communicates a point to other global powers.

The benefits of the treaty were three-pronged, per analysis from a Pacific affairs specialist.

“There is a surplus of fit and willing individuals in PNG ready for such roles,” they said, adding that many people would be interested in the opportunities of moving to Australia and potentially obtaining citizenship.

Pacific Consequences

The treaty is a component of a so-called hub and spokes network of military treaties in the region – with Australia at the heart and regional countries being the allies.

Some have raised issues that the treaty may compromise the nation's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ foreign policy position by linking PNG with Australia on every defence issue.

Both sides need more precise understanding on the foreseen results, responsibilities and assurances.

The pact also included annual joint military exercises which were about “demonstrating capability,” to “show the interoperability of the forces and their ability to face an external threat in the region and how quickly they can organise themselves and deploy”.

The pact would help update the defence force, bringing a notable improvement in both equipment and esprit de corps.