Papua New Guinea has participated in the 15th Seoul Defence Dialogue alongside Australia and New Zealand, with Defence Minister Elias Kapavore outlining the country’s focus on strategic partnerships and evolving security threats.
Speaking on the theme “Evolution of Alliance and Partnerships”, Kapavore said PNG’s Foreign Policy White Paper is grounded in “Strategic Partnerships for Security and Economic Prosperity”.
“Building partnerships with like-minded partners provides that avenue for practical cooperation to address these contemporary security challenges,” he said. Kapavore highlighted key defence milestones.
The Mutual Defence Treaty with Australia came into force on July 8th 2026, establishing an alliance aimed at building capabilities to address current and emerging security challenges. He stressed the Treaty is not targeted at anyone and that PNG has been transparent with neighbors including Indonesia and Pacific Island countries.
PNG has also elevated defence relations with the United States through a Defence Cooperation Agreement, and signed a Statement of Intent with New Zealand. These partnerships focus on capability development, joint exercises, interoperability, and new infrastructure.
The Minister acknowledged South Korea’s diplomatic efforts for stability on the Korean Peninsula, calling it critical for regional and global stability.
He broadened the security discussion to non-traditional threats. Climate change remains the biggest security threat in the South Pacific, with El-Nino patterns impacting PNG communities. Rising sea levels and climate-induced disasters are also key concerns.
Maritime security was another focus. Kapavore cited rising Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing in the region. PNG’s 3 million square kilometer EEZ is one of the largest in the Pacific, and partnerships with the US, Australia and New Zealand are delivering results.
On cyber security, he warned that misuse of Artificial Intelligence poses risks to vulnerable ICT systems in developing nations.
“For developing nations like Papua New Guinea, our strength lies in building partnerships,” Kapavore said. “The Seoul Defence Dialogue provides a platform to contribute to collective security.”
