Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to a landmark defence treaty with Papua New Guinea, despite a delay in the formal signing. The agreement, which was scheduled to coincide with PNG’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations, will elevate bilateral security cooperation to the same level as Australia’s alliance with the United States.
The treaty includes provisions for joint military training, intelligence sharing, and mutual defence obligations. It also allows citizens from both nations to serve in each other’s armed forces. Albanese explained that the delay was due to PNG cabinet members being dispersed across the country for independence events but stressed that both governments remain fully aligned.
“We agree with the agreement, we’re ready to sign off,” Albanese said. “We respect PNG’s internal process and look forward to finalizing the treaty soon.” Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison also attended the celebrations in Port Moresby, underscoring bipartisan support for the pact.
+ There are no comments
Add yours