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Australia will gain access to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and troops under a recently concluded agreement that will result in each government come to each other's defence if one faces aggression.

“Australia remains our preferred security ally, and this is understood... Our broader relationships remain intact,” said the Papua New Guinea leader.

This agreement will permit a maximum of 10,000 nationals of Papua New Guinea to enlist in the Australian Defence Force. They will also have the opportunity to become Australian citizens.

Agreement Specifics

Referred to as the Crocodile Agreement (signifying "the crocodile" in Papua New Guinean pidgin), the bilateral agreement is the most recent in a series of agreements concluded among regional states and nations vying for a defence footprint in the Pacific zone.

This agreement has the ability to bite and, similar to the crocodile, its bite force demonstrates the interoperability and preparedness of the military for hostilities.

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

Deeper Partnership

The pact also included greater collaboration around cyberspace and electromagnetic warfare.

In prior statements, the PNG Defence Minister said that the deal would mean that Australian and PNG forces would be “fully combined”.

• First, to curb foreign presence in the nation by ensuring it does not have the equivalent entry to facilities.
• Furthermore, to resolve the nation's recent difficulties recruiting for its military.
• In conclusion, the agreement also demonstrates a stance to international actors.

The positive outcomes of the deal were multi-faceted, per analysis from a regional security expert.

“PNG has an oversupply of able-bodied citizens who are willing to do this kind of work,” it was explained, stating that a significant number would be interested in the possibilities of moving to Australia and possibly getting Australian citizenship.

Area Impact

This agreement represents an element in a described as core-and-periphery system of military treaties in the region – with Australia at the core and Pacific states being the spokes.

There are concerns that the agreement undermines PNG's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ diplomatic stance by associating PNG with its partner on each safety concern.

Both sides need more precise understanding on the anticipated outcomes, responsibilities and pledges.

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

This treaty would help update PNG's army, bringing a notable improvement in both resources and confidence.