Papua New Guinea: The United States Defence Secretary has stated that Washington was not seeking a permanent base in Papua New Guinea (PNG) while announcing the deployment of a US Coast Guard ship to the Pacific nation.
Mr. Lloyd Austin made the comments during a trip to Port Moresby, PNG’s capital.
Mr. Austin’s visit makes him the first Pentagon boss to visit the nation and coincides with the US’s efforts to strengthen its military presence in the area, driven by intense competition with China.
In May, PNG and the US entered into a defence cooperation agreement that establishes a framework for Washington to renovate the country’s ports and airports, making them accessible for both military and civilian purposes.
The text of the agreement indicates that it permits the deployment of US forces in PNG and covers the Lombrum naval base, a joint development project involving Australia and the US.
“I just want to be clear. We are not seeking a permanent base in PNG,” Mr. Austin told a news conference in Port Moresby following a meeting with Prime Minister Mr. James Marape.
The US Defence Secretary noted that the two nations were deepening an existing defence relationship and would modernise PNG’s defence force and boost interoperability.
“Our goal is to make sure we strengthen PNG’s ability to defend itself and protect its interests,” Mr. Austin added.
According to Mr. Austin, a US Coast Guard cutter will visit PNG in an effort to boost ties. The deployment will help the country stop the plundering of its thinly protected marine resources, stopping activities like illegal fishing and trafficking.
The defence agreement comes as the US and its allies seek to deter Pacific island nations from forming security ties with China, a rising concern amid tension over Taiwan, and after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
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