Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence treaty that will allow thousands of PNG soldiers to join the Australian military and get citizenship.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape said the deal, named Pukpuk after the Pidgin word for crocodile and set to be signed on Monday, would include provisions “for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force”.
The treaty will prevent PNG from signing security-related agreements with China, enable PNG to establish special forces and develop new air force capabilities, and require both countries to “act to meet the common danger” if either is attacked, The Australian reported.
Mr Marape said the deal would also allow the PNG Defence Force to almost double in size to 7,000 personnel, and add a reserve force of an additional 3,000.
“This treaty is not just about maintaining barracks and boats. We are investing in both hardware and software for defence so that we can effectively police our borders and safeguard our nation,” he said in a statement released on Thursday.
“Australia is our foundational relationship country. Now this treaty elevates our relationship to the highest level, where force synergies, and capacity development for interoperability is reached.”
The treaty was supposed to be signed during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit last month, but PNG’s cabinet did not reach a quorum and the two countries signed a “communique” instead.
Mr Albanese said he “looked forward to signing the treaty with Prime Minister Marape soon”.
“Our two nations are the closest of neighbours and the closest of friends, and this treaty will elevate our relationship to a formal alliance,” he said.
PNG initially raised concerns about the requirement under Australian law that any non-citizen serving in the ADF applies for citizenship within 90 days, fearing it would lose its best recruits, but Australia argued its sovereignty required all who serve are citizens.
The PNG recruits are likely to go into support roles, such as drivers, logistics and trades, as ADF frontline infantry roles are already oversubscribed, but the far higher salaries in Australia are expected to make the positions highly sought after.
Fiji is also expected to be added to the ADF’s overseas recruitment scheme, which aims to make up a personnel shortfall.
Retention bonuses and relaxed entry requirements have resulted in a slight easing of the ADF’s recruitment crisis over the past year, but there are still 2,500 positions that need to be filled to meet pre-Budget targets.
Header image: A PNG soldier takes place in joined ADF exercise Wantok Warrior in December 2024 (ADF).
