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Australia, Papua New Guinea to sign 'historic' defence deal
The Straits Times
|September 16, 2025
A defence deal to be signed this week could see Papua New Guineans serve in the Australian military, Canberra said on Sept 15, the pact seen as an attempt to counter Beijing’s rising Pacific influence.
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The defence agreement will be signed by prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape on Sept 17 in Port Moresby, part of celebrations to mark 50 years of Papua New Guinea's (PNG) independence from Australia.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described the deal as “historic”. He said Australia’s military had been open to foreign nationals from New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the US since 2024.
“At the time, we said we would have an eye to the Pacific,” he told national broadcaster ABC.
This story is from the September 16, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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