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The Australian nation will obtain rights to the Papua New Guinean military facilities and soldiers under a freshly signed deal that will see the two countries provide mutual defense if either is under attack.

“Our primary security collaboration is with Australia, a stance that is acknowledged... No other diplomatic ties have been affected,” said PNG's Prime Minister.

The pact will allow up to 10,000 nationals of Papua New Guinea to serve in the nation's armed forces. They will also have the option to become Australian citizens.

Pact Provisions

Known as the Pukpuk Pact (meaning "crocodile" in PNG pidgin), the bilateral agreement is the newest in a series of agreements struck between Pacific nations and countries vying for a defence footprint in the region.

This agreement has the ability to bite and, like a crocodile, its bite force highlights the interoperability and readiness of the military for conflict.

A military assault on any signatory would be “a risk to mutual safety” so the two are to “respond to the shared threat”.

Enhanced Collaboration

This agreement also included greater collaboration around cyberspace and electromagnetic warfare.

In prior statements, the national security leader said that the deal would mean that defence personnel from each country would be “fully combined”.

• First, to limit outside power in PNG by ensuring it does not have the comparable reach to infrastructure.
• Additionally, to resolve the nation's recent difficulties enlisting new personnel.
• Finally, the pact also sends a message to international actors.

The benefits of the treaty were comprising several aspects, according to a regional security expert.

“There is a surplus of fit and willing individuals in PNG ready for such roles,” it was explained, stating that a significant number would be attracted by the prospects of moving to Australia and perhaps getting Australian citizenship.

Pacific Consequences

The treaty represents an element in a described as centralized security framework of security agreements in the area – with Australia at the centre and Pacific states being the partners.

Questions have emerged that the treaty could weaken PNG's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ foreign policy position by aligning PNG with Australia on each safety concern.

Each party need more precise understanding on the foreseen results, responsibilities and pledges.

The pact also included regular collaborative training which were about “demonstrating capability,” to “show the interoperability of the forces and their ability to face an external threat in the region and how quickly they can organise themselves and deploy”.

The pact would help modernise the defence force, bringing a significant boost in both equipment and morale.