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Australia will gain access to PNG's armed forces bases and personnel under a new deal that will ensure the two countries provide mutual defense if an armed conflict occurs.

“Our primary security collaboration is with Australia, a stance that is acknowledged... No other diplomatic ties have been affected,” stated the nation's head of state.

This agreement will permit up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to enlist in Australia's military. They will also have the option to become Australian citizens.

Treaty Details

Referred to as the Crocodile Agreement (meaning "the crocodile" in local dialect), the bilateral agreement is the newest in a line of deals struck between Pacific nations and powers seeking a defence footprint in the region.

The treaty possesses significant force and, in the manner of this predator, its bite force highlights the cooperation and preparedness of the armed forces for hostilities.

An armed attack on one of the nations would be “a risk to mutual safety” so the two are to “act to meet the common danger”.

Deeper Partnership

The deal also covered greater collaboration around cyberspace and electromagnetic warfare.

Earlier, the PNG Defence Minister said that the treaty would mean that Australian and PNG forces would be “completely unified”.

• To begin with, to limit external influence in PNG by making certain it does not have the same level of access to facilities.
• Additionally, to resolve Australia's recent difficulties recruiting for its military.
• Lastly, the pact also communicates a point to international actors.

The positive outcomes of the agreement were multi-faceted, as stated by a defence analyst.

“PNG has an oversupply of able-bodied citizens who are willing to do this kind of work,” it was explained, noting that many people would be drawn to the prospects of moving to Australia and potentially securing permanent status.

Regional Implications

The treaty is a component of a termed hub and spokes network of security agreements in the Pacific – with the nation at the centre and Pacific states being the partners.

Questions have emerged that the agreement undermines the nation's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ foreign policy position by linking PNG with Australia on all security matters.

The two nations need greater clarity on the expectations, responsibilities and pledges.

The deal also included annual joint military exercises 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”.

This treaty would help enhance PNG's army, bringing a major uplift in both equipment and confidence.