Australia’s landmark defence treaty with PNG set to swing pendulum away from China

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape (R) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese sign a mutual communique in Port Moresby on September 17, 2025. Australia and Papua New Guinea failed to sign a long-awaited mutual defence treaty as expected on September 17, as Canberra seeks to deepen ties with Pacific nations and counter Beijing's rising influence. (Photo by AFP)

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape (right) and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese signing a mutual communique in Port Moresby on Sept 17.

PHOTO: AFP

Jonathan Pearlman

SYDNEY – Australia is set to sign its first new defence treaty in more than 70 years in the coming days, after securing a landmark deal with Papua New Guinea (PNG) aimed at countering China’s creeping influence in the resource-rich Pacific nation.

The treaty, which was approved by PNG’s Cabinet on Oct 2, comes amid growing anxieties in Canberra, Wellington and Washington about China’s efforts to transform its expanding commercial ties with Pacific nations into security ties.

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