Australia: Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have signed a bilateral security deal that will strengthen the Pacific state that has been courted persistently by China.
The agreement, which was inked in Canberra by PNG’s Mr. James Marape and Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Albanese, follows PNG’s May signing of a defence agreement with the US to modernise its military bases.
During a joint press conference, Mr. Marape informed reporters that the agreement with Australia demonstrated the two nations’ status as “brother and sister nations.”
Before PNG gained independence 48 years ago, Australia set up the country’s borders, public service, and judiciary, according to Mr. Marape.
“You have always given support to us. What happens up north of your borders has deep, deep shared effect, benefit, consequences, on our region,” Mr. Marape added.
“This is a comprehensive and historic agreement. It will make it easier for Australia to help PNG address its internal security needs,” Mr. Albanese said.
The Australian prime Minister praised PNG’s people for their support of Australian soldiers in World War II, describing it as a defence partnership built on sacrifice.
“For our interests going forward, we have no closer friends than Papua New Guinea,” Mr. Albanese remarked.
According to the agreement, strengthening PNG’s capacities supports “Pacific-led regional security and stability,” and Australia and PNG will give priority to their mutual consultations regarding PNG’s requirements for infrastructure, training, and security-related equipment.
PNG is the biggest and most populated country in Melanesia, located less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Australia’s northernmost border. It is ideally situated along some of the busiest shipping lanes in the Pacific, and it boasts enormous reserves of minerals, gold, and gas.
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