Neighbours propose security treaty
Papua New Guinea’s new Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko has revealed to Australian media that his country is moving to negotiate a security treaty with Australia – and potentially New Zealand.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the fact the treaty is being contemplated seems to signal that both Canberra and Port Moresby are willing to build a deeper defence relationship as China entrenches its power in the region.
Tkatchenko told the ABC he discussed the idea with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong during her visit to Port Moresby this week, and both countries were keen to press ahead with negotiations.
‘‘There were discussions of a treaty going forward between our countries to ensure we are all on the same page when it comes to security in the region.’’
While Australia and PNG have strong security links, the two countries have never signed a formal treaty.
Tkatchenko said the treaty ‘‘would cover all security aspects in the region’’ and could take in New Zealand as well, although he did not say whether he had held any discussions with the government in Wellington on the subject.
‘‘I would say New Zealand would be a major part of it as well, in our region,’’ he told the ABC.
Tkatchenko said there would be more detailed discussions about the proposal at the Png-australia Ministerial Forum due to be held in Canberra in November.
The announcement comes as Australia pours more resources into its military ties with PNG.
The federal government is already pressing ahead with a A$175 million (NZ$196M) upgrade of the Lombrum Naval Base on PNG’S Manus Island with the United States.
Wong played down the prospect of any security treaty being struck soon, saying she had only held ‘‘very, very early discussions’’ with Tkatchenko and didn’t want to get ahead of talks with the newly re-elected PNG government under James Marape.
She also would not be drawn on whether New Zealand might also be invited to join, or what shape the treaty might take.
Dr Anna Powles from Massey University said Tkatchenko’s declaration about the treaty was ‘‘a surprising development’’, particularly given that PNG’S new government had only just taken shape.
She told the ABC the move might have been triggered by increasing anxiety in Port Moresby about the implications of the security agreement that China recently struck with Solomon Islands.
‘‘Australia has sought to establish a hubs and spokes system of bilateral security treaties in the Pacific, and a security treaty of this nature with PNG would be an obvious extension of that,’’ Powles said.