Australia and Papua New Guinea have officially inked a mutual defence pact that commits each nation to supporting the other in the event of an armed attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his counterpart James Marape signed the Pukpuk treaty, named after the local word for crocodile, at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday.
It followed a false start in Port Moresby in September, when the treaty was slated to be signed at celebrations for PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence, after Mr Marape couldn’t get the green light from his cabinet in time.
“History, brother,” Mr Albanese said as he signed the pact alongside Mr Marape before senior ministers from both sides applauded.
The treaty also paves the way for Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian Defence Force, with Mr Marape saying up to 10,000 citizens serve across the Arafura Sea.
Australia will also help bolster PNG’s defence force, including through training and new capabilities.
The treaty formalises Australia’s first alliance in more than 70 years and only its third overall, after the United States and New Zealand.
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