Australia and Papua New Guinea have held talks in recent days as part of efforts to shore up defence cooperation under the new Pukpuk Treaty.
The talks included plans to allow PNG citizens to be recruited into the Australian Defence Force.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and recently-appointed PNG Defence Minister Elias Kapavore held their first official ministerial meeting in Port Moresby on Sunday.
In a joint statement, the ministers said they had reaffirmed “the close and enduring partnership” between the two countries.
The Pukpuk Treaty, which came into force on July 8, 2026, is PNG’s first alliance with any country, and Australia’s first in more than 70 years.
The Ministers said they spoke about opportunities to further deepen defence ties and implement priority initiatives under the treaty.
This included the development of a recruitment pathway to enable PNG citizens to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Under the treaty, both nations were committed to “working together to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region in which sovereignty is respected”.
Mr Marles said that Australia and PNG were “the closest of partners and friends, and now allies”.
“With the Pukpuk Treaty now in force, we are focused on the next phase of our partnership and delivering practical outcomes that strengthen cooperation between our defence forces and advance our shared security interests,” he said.
Mr Kapavore said implementing the Pukpuk Treaty was one of his highest priorities.
“The recruitment of Papua New Guineans to the ADF is momentous and will further strengthen our enduring bond,” he said.
“I’m pleased to say that Deputy Prime Minister Marles and I believe we can deliver the first pilot program in 2027.”
