Papua New Guinea and Australia have marked a historic milestone with the formal signing of the Papua New Guinea–Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, establishing a new era of alliance and cooperation between the two nations.
The treaty, celebrated as a defining step in bilateral relations, is expected to strengthen security, strategic partnership, and shared regional interests, reinforcing the long-standing friendship between PNG and Australia.
Prime Minister James Marape described the occasion as “an historic day to be proud of, and remembered in our nation’s history for the next 50 years — the day Papua New Guinea and Australia became Allies.”
The agreement formalises defence and security collaboration, providing a framework for joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and mutual support in times of crisis, while also symbolising the countries’ commitment to regional stability in the Pacific.