In a move that could reshape the security architecture of the Pacific, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have entered into a landmark defense treaty, marking the first time in more than half a century that Canberra has formalized such an alliance outside its longstanding ANZUS pact. Signed on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape, the so-called Pukpuk Treaty—named after the Tok Pisin word for crocodile—signals a new era of cooperation between the two neighbors.
While much of the international commentary has focused on the treaty’s implications for great power rivalry, particularly in the context of China’s expanding influence in the Pacific, officials and analysts emphasize that its true significance lies in deepening mutual support for humanitarian missions, strengthening PNG’s capacity to address its own security challenges, and ensuring Australia remains a steadfast partner in times of crisis. As reported by The Strategist, “reducing the agreement to a hedge against Beijing misses its broader intent and ambition.”
The Pukpuk Treaty comes at a time of mounting domestic instability within PNG and heightened competition across the Pacific. The 3,600-strong PNG Defence Force is set to be integrated with Australia’s 90,000-member military, a move that promises unprecedented interoperability and operational ties between the two countries. Moreover, starting in 2026, thousands of Papua New Guineans with permanent residency in Australia will be eligible to join the armed forces of either nation, creating new pathways for recruitment and professional development.
Prime Minister Albanese, speaking at the signing ceremony, described the agreement as “a mutual defense treaty that will enable unprecedented integration of their defense forces and military personnel.” He drew a direct parallel to the ANZUS Treaty, stating, “This treaty contains a mutual defense obligation similar to Australia’s ANZUS Treaty commitments, where we declare that in the event of an armed attack on either of our countries, we would both act to meet the common danger.” According to Associated Press, Albanese also made clear that “both our nations have also agreed not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation of this treaty.”
For PNG, the alliance is a milestone. It is the country’s first formal defense treaty and reflects a unique relationship with Australia, its nearest neighbor and former colonial administrator. The agreement comes as PNG faces considerable internal security pressures, ranging from disaster response to persistent law-and-order challenges. Australia’s assistance has long been critical in these arenas. In 2018, for example, the Australian Defence Force deployed aircraft and personnel to help PNG respond to a devastating earthquake in the Highlands region that claimed more than 160 lives. That same year, Australia provided close security support for Port Moresby’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
The partnership is not one-sided. In January 2020, PNG sent a contingent of 100 engineers to Australia to assist during catastrophic bushfires. The nations have also worked together in regional missions, including joint roles in the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands starting in 2003, and more recent deployments to help Honiara during civil unrest in 2021 and preparations for the 2023 Pacific Games. These episodes, as highlighted by The Strategist, “formalize the pattern the treaty is designed to reinforce: two neighbors providing mutual support in moments of need and working together to sustain regional stability.”
The text of the Pukpuk Treaty commits both countries to “secure mutual defense and security interests and contribute to regional stability and security,” all while emphasizing the principle of sovereignty. PNG’s ambitions for its defense force are substantial. Prime Minister Marape has outlined plans to expand the force to 7,000 personnel, establish new battalions in the Highlands, revive maritime capabilities to secure the nation’s vast waters, and create an air wing able to operate across challenging terrain. The treaty provides a framework for Australia to help PNG realize these measured and realistic goals.
One innovative feature of the agreement is the mutual recruitment pathway, which addresses Australia’s military recruitment shortfalls while investing in PNG personnel who may later return home with enhanced skills to contribute to nation-building. Participation in Australia’s largest multinational exercise, Talisman Sabre, in 2025 was a significant milestone for PNG and a demonstration of the growing interoperability between the two forces.
Notably, speculation about the establishment of Australian military bases in PNG remains premature. While PNG’s geography—particularly Manus Island and the northern coastline—offers facilities that could support joint operations in the future, Prime Minister Marape has not committed to such arrangements. Instead, the treaty is designed to lock in habits of cooperation and signal that Australia sees PNG not merely as a recipient of aid, but as a true partner in shaping Pacific security.
China’s reaction to the treaty has been one of concern. After Marape and Albanese signed a joint statement supporting the treaty’s core principles last month, the Chinese Embassy in PNG issued a statement warning that such a bilateral pact “should not be exclusive in nature, nor should it restrict or prevent a sovereign country from cooperating with a third party for any reason.” The embassy further cautioned that the agreement “should also refrain from targeting any third party or undermining its legitimate rights and interests.”
Prime Minister Marape was quick to clarify PNG’s position: “This is not a treaty that sets up enemies but consolidates friendships and China—we’ve been transparent—we have told them that Australia … has become our security partner of choice and they understand.” Marape reiterated that PNG’s foreign policy remains “friends to all, enemy to none,” underscoring that the treaty consolidates PNG’s security partnership with Australia “with no intent of creating enemies elsewhere.”
The United States and Australia have both stepped up their military engagement with PNG in recent years, a trend that accelerated after Beijing signed a security deal with Solomon Islands in 2022, raising concerns about the possibility of a Chinese naval base in the region. Australia is also in talks to negotiate a similar defense pact with Fiji, reflecting a broader strategy to reinforce ties with Pacific island nations as China’s influence continues to grow. Outside Australia and New Zealand, PNG, Fiji, and Tonga are the only South Pacific island nations with militaries.
For now, the Pukpuk Treaty stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the Australia–PNG partnership. It formalizes a pattern of cooperation that has already weathered natural disasters, civil unrest, and shifting geopolitical tides. As the region faces an uncertain future, the alliance is poised to play a central role in maintaining stability, supporting development, and ensuring that Pacific nations remain sovereign and secure.
With the ink barely dry on the agreement and ratification by both parliaments still pending, the true test of the Pukpuk Treaty will lie in its implementation—and in its ability to balance the interests of local communities, regional stability, and the ever-watchful eyes of global powers.
