Australia Signs Key Military Pact with PNG

The Australian nation will gain access to PNG's armed forces bases and troops under a freshly signed deal that will result in both nations come to each other's defence if an armed conflict occurs.

The pact will enable as many as 10,000 nationals of Papua New Guinea to serve in Australia's military. They will also have the choice to become Australian citizens.

Treaty Details

Known as the Crocodile Agreement (signifying "crocodile" in Papua New Guinean pidgin), the two-nation deal is the latest in a series of agreements forged by Pacific nations and powers competing for a security presence in the Pacific zone.

This agreement has the ability to bite and, in the manner of this predator, its bite force highlights the cooperation and readiness of the military for conflict.

An armed attack on any signatory would be “a risk to mutual safety” so the two are to “address the collective risk”.

Enhanced Collaboration

This agreement also covered enhanced cooperation around cyberspace and electromagnetic warfare.

Previously, the national security leader said that the agreement would mean that defence personnel from each country would be “fully combined”.

• To begin with, to curb outside power in the nation by ensuring it does not have the comparable reach to infrastructure.
• Additionally, to address Australia's recent difficulties building defence numbers.
• Finally, the pact also demonstrates a stance to other global powers.

The benefits of the treaty were comprising several aspects, as stated by a Pacific affairs specialist.

“PNG has an oversupply of able-bodied citizens who are willing to do this kind of work,” the expert noted, adding that numerous individuals would be attracted by the opportunities of living in Australia and perhaps obtaining citizenship.

Pacific Consequences

This agreement represents an element in a termed hub and spokes network of security agreements in the region – with the nation at the core and island nations being the partners.

Questions have emerged that the treaty could weaken PNG's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ international approach by aligning PNG with its partner on all security matters.

Each party need enhanced definition on the expectations, duties and commitments.

This agreement also included yearly combined drills 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 agreement would help enhance the nation's military, bringing a significant boost in both resources and confidence.