Prime Minister James Marape and Australian Prime Minister have agreed on the text of a Mutual Defence Treaty, that will have to go through their respective cabinet processes before it is signed.
During the bilateral meeting in Port Moresby yesterday, both leaders met to discuss on the security treaty.
According to both Prime Ministers, Mutual Defence Treaty, is also known as the Pukpuk Treaty, will create positive impact to the defence partnership between PNG and Australia.
The treaty states that the defence alliance armed attack on Australia or PNG is a threat to the peace and security of both countries.
It captures the ideas of expansion and modernization of the defence relationship including setting out the shared ambition to establish a recruitment pathway for PNG Citizens into Australia Defence Force.
This treaty focuses on ensuring and expanding defence cooperation through enhanced capability, interoperability and integration as well as reaffirming both countries absolute respect for neighbour’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Prime Minister James Marape said, it is the intention and initiative of Papua New Guinea have this security treaty with Australia.
PM Marape explained, both cabinets will sit through and process the treaty then will be brought through parliament to be rectified.
“This is an important institutional process that is running, we are not running a military dictatorship here,” PM Marape said.
“In a democracy, the majority agrees, and the cabinet will handle this matter”.
Prime Minister Marape said, the process will not be delayed.
He said this is an important monumental occasion to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the idea and expressed support towards establishing the security Treaty.
“This is in the interest of Papua New Guinea and in the interest of Australia,” PM Albanese said.
“This is a historic move forward. What I think is, this is a common-sense position resulting from our history and our geography”.
Meanwhile, while responding to questions raised by international media on Papua New Guinea stance with China, Prime Minister Marape said that Papua New Guinea has security partners of its choice.
Marape explained, “the last six years under my watch, they have given great respect to our government. China knows clearly as far as security we have security partners of choice”.
The Prime Minister said that the Defence Minister Dr. Billy Joseph will be travelling to China and other countries to inform the executives what the treaty is all about.
“There is nothing against our relationship with them, and we ask them too, that they do respect PNG Government’s Choice”, PM Marape said.
