• Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed the Pukpuk defence treaty, their first in over 70 years.
• The treaty obligates both countries to support each other militarily in case of an attack.
• Up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans will have the opportunity to serve in the Australian Defence Force.
• The agreement aims to enhance regional security amid increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific.
• Both leaders emphasized that the treaty is rooted in geographical and historical ties, not geopolitics.

Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have officially signed a significant defence treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, marking their first formal military agreement in over 70 years. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape announced the pact in Canberra, underscoring that it obligates both nations to support one another in the event of any military attack. This pact aims to enhance regional security at a time when Australia's influence is pivotal against the backdrop of escalating Chinese involvement in the Pacific, according to Al Jazeera, BBC, and Jakarta Post.

The Pukpuk Treaty, named after the Tok Pisin word for crocodile, allows as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to potentially join the Australian Defence Force under dual arrangements. Albanese remarked, "By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security," reinforcing the strategy to strengthen the military ties between the two nations. Marape added that the treaty addresses historical relationships while firmly stating that it is not built on geopolitical maneuvering, but instead on geography and shared history, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

More specifically, the treaty is poised to integrate PNG's military capabilities with those of Australia, enhancing joint operational effectiveness and response strategies. There are also provisions for annual military exercises, and the potential for PNG to gain access to intelligence resources shared among Five Eyes partners, as discussed in various reports. Notably, Albanese emphasized a commitment for both nations to not engage in activities that would undermine this defence pact, emphasizing mutual trust, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

This treaty comes as strategic interests in the Pacific region intensify, with both nations enhancing their security frameworks in light of increasing influence from China. Marape clarified that PNG continues to value its relationships with China and other nations, indicating a complex interplay in geopolitical dynamics. This step represents a significant shift in PNG's security policy, especially with past instances of unrest and conflict within its borders that prompted considerations for defence support, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.