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Australia will secure entry to PNG's military facilities and personnel under a freshly signed deal that will result in both nations provide mutual defense if an armed conflict occurs.

“We have told them that Australia is our security partner of choice and they understand our alliances here... Other aspects of our relations have never been compromised,” affirmed PNG's Prime Minister.

The security treaty will allow a maximum of 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join Australia's military. They will also have the opportunity to obtain Australian citizenship.

Pact Provisions

Dubbed the Pukpuk Pact (which translates to "crocodile" in local dialect), the bilateral agreement is the newest in a succession of treaties forged by regional states and nations competing for a security presence in the Pacific zone.

The treaty can deliver a strong response and, similar to the crocodile, its impact speaks of the interoperability and readiness of the military for conflict.

A military assault on any signatory would be “dangerous to the other's peace and security” so each must “respond to the shared threat”.

Expanded Cooperation

The pact also covered enhanced cooperation around digital domains and spectrum operations.

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

• First, to restrict foreign presence in the nation by ensuring it does not have the same level of access to infrastructure.
• Furthermore, to tackle the nation's recent difficulties enlisting new personnel.
• Lastly, the deal also sends a message to other global powers.

The positive outcomes of the deal were comprising several aspects, according to a defence analyst.

“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 prospects of living in Australia and perhaps obtaining citizenship.

Pacific Consequences

The treaty represents an element in a described as centralized security framework of military treaties in the Pacific – with the nation at the core and regional countries being the spokes.

There are concerns that the treaty could weaken the nation's inclusive and neutral diplomatic stance by aligning the country with its partner on every defence issue.

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

The pact also included annual joint military exercises which were about “demonstrating capability,” to “highlight joint defence capacity and swift mobilization against outside risks”.

The agreement would help enhance PNG's army, bringing a notable improvement in both material and esprit de corps.