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The Australian nation will gain access to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and personnel under a freshly signed deal that will ensure both nations support one another if either is under attack.

“Our primary security collaboration is with Australia, a stance that is acknowledged... No other diplomatic ties have been affected,” stated the Papua New Guinea leader.

The pact will enable a maximum of 10,000 Papua New Guineans to enlist in the nation's armed forces. They will also have the opportunity to obtain Australian citizenship.

Pact Provisions

Dubbed the Pukpuk Pact (meaning "the crocodile" in local dialect), the two-nation deal is the newest in a succession of treaties forged by Pacific nations and nations seeking a military influence in the region.

This agreement has the ability to bite and, in the manner of this predator, its bite force speaks of the interoperability and readiness of the armed forces for conflict.

Hostile action on either country would be “dangerous to the other's peace and security” so the two are to “respond to the shared threat”.

Expanded Cooperation

The deal also covered greater collaboration around online security and electromagnetic warfare.

In prior statements, the defence official from Papua New Guinea indicated that the treaty would mean that the military units of both nations would be “totally integrated”.

• Initially, to restrict external influence in Papua New Guinea by making certain it does not have the comparable reach to resources.
• Furthermore, to resolve the nation's recent struggles enlisting new personnel.
• Finally, the pact also sends a message to foreign governments.

The benefits of the deal were three-pronged, as stated by a Pacific affairs specialist.

“Papua New Guinea possesses numerous capable nationals eager for these opportunities,” it was explained, noting that a significant number would be drawn to the opportunities of living in Australia and potentially obtaining citizenship.

Area Impact

This agreement represents an element in a described as centralized security framework of security agreements in the region – with the nation at the centre and Pacific states being the allies.

Questions have emerged that the agreement undermines PNG's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ diplomatic stance by associating the country with its partner on each safety concern.

The two nations need enhanced definition on the expectations, responsibilities and assurances.

The pact also included annual joint military exercises which were about “communicating intent,” to “highlight joint defence capacity and swift mobilization against outside risks”.

The pact would help modernise the nation's military, bringing a major uplift in both equipment and morale.