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Australia will obtain rights to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and personnel under a new agreement that will ensure both nations support one another if one faces aggression.

“We have told them that Australia is our security partner of choice and they understand our alliances here... Other aspects of our relations have never been compromised,” stated the Papua New Guinea leader.

The security treaty will enable a maximum of 10,000 PNG citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force. They will also have the opportunity to become Australian citizens.

Pact Provisions

Dubbed the Pukpuk Pact (meaning "crocodile" in local dialect), the two-nation deal is the latest in a succession of treaties concluded among countries in the Pacific and powers competing for a security presence in the Pacific zone.

The pact has the ability to bite and, like a crocodile, its bite force highlights the joint capability and preparedness of the defence units for hostilities.

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

Deeper Partnership

The pact also included greater collaboration around online security and spectrum operations.

Previously, the national security leader indicated that the agreement would mean that Australian and PNG forces would be “fully combined”.

• To begin with, to limit external influence in Papua New Guinea by guaranteeing it does not have the equivalent entry to resources.
• Second, to tackle Australia's recent struggles building defence numbers.
• In conclusion, the pact also communicates a point to international actors.

The advantages of the treaty were comprising several aspects, per analysis from a defence analyst.

“PNG has an oversupply of able-bodied citizens who are willing to do this kind of work,” the expert noted, noting that many people would be interested in the prospects of residing in the country and perhaps securing permanent status.

Regional Implications

The deal forms part of a so-called core-and-periphery system of defence pacts in the region – with the nation at the centre and regional countries being the partners.

Some have raised issues that the treaty undermines PNG's non-aligned diplomatic stance by linking PNG with Australia on all security matters.

Both sides need greater clarity on the foreseen results, responsibilities and assurances.

This agreement also included annual joint military exercises which were about “strategic messaging,” 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 agreement would help update the nation's military, bringing a major uplift in both equipment and confidence.