Papua New Guinea Cabinet signs a historic defense treaty with Australia | Military news

The PUKPUK treaty is scheduled to be signed soon by Prime Minister Png James Marape and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has agreed to a mutual defensive treaty with Australia in a big move to the historic security agreement.

The Prime Minister in Papua Guinea James Mareby announced in a statement on Thursday that the government cabinet had given its approval to the deal, and praised the “high” relations with Australia.

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“This reflects the depth of confidence, history and the common future between our country,” Marg said in a statement.

The PukPuk Treaty was originally appointed To be signed in September to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of Papua New Guinea, but the cabinet in Margapi failed to reach the quorum.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz said on social media that he is looking forward to signing the treaty and creating an “official alliance” with Babua New Guinea.

The text of the PUKPUK treaty was not published, but some details were issued in a Maraae statement, including the indication of the mutual defense condition, with the PNG provisions to update its military capabilities and the development of a national reserve force that includes 3000 volunteers.

The treaty will also establish a course for 10,000 Papua New Guineans to work in the Australian Defense Force, while PNG also aims to build the defense force into 7,000 soldiers, according to the Marape’s office.

Png’s population is more than 11 million people and is one of the most diverse countries in the world, according to the World Bank, but it is also struggling Repeated violence Of more than 10,000 ethnic clans.

Australia took over Babua New Guinea as a colonial power in 1902 and turned the country until 1975, but both sides have been close since then, according to Jennifer Parker, Australian defense expert.

Parker Al -Jazeera told the treaty that the treaty is scheduled to write down the current defense relationship for the two countries and Australia could win its first ally in the treaty in 70 years.

Australia only has two official allies – the United States and New Zealand – under the AZUS 1951 Treaty, while PNG does not have.

“We will not know before we see the details of the treaty, but there is a point of view, it will include a general commitment to support each other and defend each other,” Parker told Al -Jazeera.

Justin Passi, CEO of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that the deal will pave the way for “Australia to deepen its investments in the defense sector (Baba New Guinea) to face emerging challenges.”

The treaty comes at a time when Australia is cautious about the growing presence of China in the Pacific Ocean and amid concerns that it can create a military base in the region, according to Baker.

Despite Canberra’s concerns, the treaty will also include provisions for respect for the “third party” defense between Port Morsbi and other countries, according to the Marab Office.

This drafting seems to be an implicit signal to China, and it is one of the most important trade partners in PNG and a source of foreign direct investment.

The Chinese embassy in Port Morsby said in September that Baboa New Guinea should “support its independence” and not to sign a “exclusive in nature” treaty and restrict it “from cooperation with a third party.