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Australia will secure entry to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and troops under a freshly signed agreement that will see both nations come to each other's defence if one faces aggression.

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

The pact will enable as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to enlist in the Australian Defence Force. They will also have the option to become Australian citizens.

Agreement Specifics

Referred to as the Crocodile Agreement (which translates to "this reptile" in Papua New Guinean pidgin), the mutual pact is the newest in a succession of treaties forged by countries in the Pacific and countries competing for a defence footprint in the area.

This agreement has the ability to bite and, in the manner of this predator, its impact speaks of the interoperability and preparedness of the military for hostilities.

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

Enhanced Collaboration

This agreement also covered enhanced cooperation around digital domains and spectrum operations.

In prior statements, the defence official from Papua New Guinea indicated that the deal would mean that the military units of both nations would be “fully combined”.

• Initially, to restrict foreign presence in Papua New Guinea by making certain it does not have the equivalent entry to resources.
• Second, to tackle the nation's recent struggles building defence numbers.
• In conclusion, the pact also sends a message to foreign governments.

The benefits of the deal were three-pronged, as stated by a regional security expert.

“Papua New Guinea possesses numerous capable nationals eager for these opportunities,” they said, adding that numerous individuals would be drawn to the prospects of moving to Australia and perhaps obtaining citizenship.

Pacific Consequences

The deal is a component of a termed hub and spokes network of military treaties in the Pacific – with Australia at the core and Pacific states being the allies.

Questions have emerged that the pact undermines PNG's non-aligned diplomatic stance by aligning the country with its partner on all security matters.

Each party need more precise understanding on the expectations, duties and commitments.

The pact also included regular collaborative training which were about “strategic messaging,” to “demonstrate combined operational readiness and rapid response to regional dangers”.

This treaty would help enhance PNG's army, bringing a significant boost in both material and esprit de corps.