Australia, Papua New Guinea leaders sign defense alliance

MELBOURNE, October 7 ------ Australia has signed a new defense agreement with Papua New Guinea, its first in more than 70 years, as Canberra seeks to block China from expanding its security presence in the Pacific.

Under the Pukpuk defense treaty, which is the first signed by Papua New Guinea, Australia and its northern neighbor are obliged to come to each other’s aid if attacked. “This is a historic agreement,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the press in Canberra. “By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security.”

The treaty allows as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defense Force, under dual arrangements.

Albanese said both nations have agreed “not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation of this Treaty.” “This Treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or any other reason. But out of geography, history and the enduring reality of our shared neighborhood,” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told reporters.

The Papua New Guinea Cabinet approved the Pukpuk treaty, which means crocodile, last week.

Source: manilatimes.net 

----------------------