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The Australian nation will gain access to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and personnel under a recently concluded agreement that will ensure both nations provide mutual defense if an armed conflict occurs.

“Australia remains our preferred security ally, and this is understood... Our broader relationships remain intact,” said PNG's Prime Minister.

This agreement will allow a maximum of 10,000 PNG citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force. They will also have the choice to become Australian citizens.

Pact Provisions

Referred to as the Pukpuk Treaty (which translates to "this reptile" in local dialect), the mutual pact is the newest in a succession of treaties forged by countries in the Pacific and nations vying for a defence footprint in the region.

The pact possesses significant force and, like a crocodile, its bite force demonstrates the joint capability and readiness of the armed forces for conflict.

A military assault on either country would be “a risk to mutual safety” so the two are to “respond to the shared threat”.

Deeper Partnership

The pact also included expanded partnership around cyberspace and spectrum operations.

Earlier, the defence official from Papua New Guinea said that the agreement would mean that defence personnel from each country would be “totally integrated”.

• To begin with, to restrict external influence in PNG by ensuring it does not have the equivalent entry to infrastructure.
• Furthermore, to resolve the nation's recent challenges building defence numbers.
• Finally, the deal also sends a message to foreign governments.

The advantages of the treaty were comprising several aspects, per analysis from a Pacific affairs specialist.

“There is a surplus of fit and willing individuals in PNG ready for such roles,” the expert noted, adding that a significant number would be interested in the possibilities of living in Australia and perhaps securing permanent status.

Regional Implications

This agreement forms part of a termed core-and-periphery system of defence pacts in the area – with the nation at the centre and regional countries being the partners.

Some have raised issues that the pact may compromise PNG's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ diplomatic stance by associating PNG with its partner on every defence issue.

Both sides need enhanced definition on the expectations, obligations 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”.

This treaty would help update the defence force, bringing a notable improvement in both resources and esprit de corps.