U.S. boosts ties with Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — The U.S., which is competing with China for influence in the Pacific, on Monday signed a security pact with Papua New Guinea.

With a strategically significant location just north of Australia, Papua New Guinea was the site of fierce battles during World War II. With nearly 10 million residents, it’s the most populous Pacific Island nation.

The U.S. State Department said the agreement provides a framework to improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of Papua New Guinea’s defense force and increase regional stability. The full agreement will be made public once politicians in both countries have an opportunity for input, probably in a couple of months.

At a breakfast meeting, Prime Minister James Marape said Papua New Guinea faces significant security challenges, including internal skirmishes and illegal fishing boats that light up the night like skyscrapers.

“We have our internal security as well as our sovereignty security issues,” Marape said. “We’re stepping up on that front to make sure our borders are secure.”

The agreement sparked student protests in the second-largest city, Lae. And many in the Pacific are concerned about the increasing militarization of the region.

Naomi Kipoi, 17, said she was opposed to the security pact because she felt it meant that the U.S. could come to her country whenever it pleased, without permission. She said China had been a big help to Papua New Guinea by building roads and funding schools.

“The U.S. didn’t help us with aid and other things,” Kipoi said. “They’re just trying to sign the agreement.”

Last year, the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China, a move that raised alarm throughout the Pacific.

The U.S. has increased its focus on the Pacific, opening embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga, reviving Peace Corps volunteer efforts and encouraging business investment.

But some in the Pacific have questioned how reliable a partner the U.S. is, particularly after President Biden canceled plans to make a historic stop in Papua New Guinea to sign the pact. Biden would have been the first sitting U.S. president to visit any Pacific Island country, but he ended up canceling to focus on the debt-limit talks back home.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled in Biden’s place, arriving in Papua New Guinea early Monday.

In response to news of Blinken’s impending visit, China warned against the introduction of “geopolitical games” to the region.

In addition to the defense pact, the U.S. signed a maritime agreement with Papua New Guinea. This will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to partner with the Pacific nation to counter illegal fishing and drug smuggling.

The U.S. visit coincided with a trip by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was hosting a meeting with Pacific Island leaders to discuss better cooperation.

Blinken met with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and said the two nations have a shared vision for the region: “to make sure that it remains free, open, secure and prosperous.”

Hipkins noted that he was happy Blinken had made the trip.

“The increased U.S. presence in the Pacific is something we welcome,” he said.

But the prime minister also drew a distinction with New Zealand’s efforts.

“We are not interested in the militarization of the Pacific,” he told reporters before the meeting with Blinken. “We are interested in working with the Pacific on issues where we have mutual interest, [such as] issues around climate change. And we’re not going to be attaching military strings to that support.”

Hipkins was one of the few leaders to venture out publicly in Port Moresby, the capital. He got a rapturous reception from hundreds of well-wishers when he visited Gordons Market, which sells produce.