Australia, Papua New Guinea leaders sign defence alliance

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MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia has signed a new defence agreement with Papua New Guinea, its first in more than 70 years, as Canberra seeks to block China from expanding its security presence in the Pacific.

Under the Pukpuk defence treaty, which is the first signed by Papua New Guinea, Australia and its northern neighbour are obliged to come to each other’s aid if attacked.

“This is a historic agreement,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told press in Canberra. “By continuing to build our security relationships in the region, we safeguard our own security.”

The treaty allows as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force, under dual arrangements.

Albanese said both nations have agreed “not to undertake any activities or enter into any agreements that would compromise the implementation of this Treaty.”

“This Treaty was not conceived out of geopolitics or any other reason. But out of geography, history and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood,” Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told press. The Papua New Guinea cabinet approved the Pukpuk treaty, which means crocodile, last week.

“We still retain our relationship with China and other nations,” Marape added.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)