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Australia will secure entry to the Papua New Guinean armed forces bases and soldiers under a recently concluded pact that will result in the two countries come to each other's defence if an armed conflict occurs.

“Australia remains our preferred security ally, and this is understood... Our broader relationships remain intact,” stated PNG's Prime Minister.

This agreement will enable as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to enlist in the nation's armed forces. They will also have the opportunity to obtain Australian citizenship.

Pact Provisions

Known as the Crocodile Agreement (which translates to "this reptile" in PNG pidgin), the mutual pact is the most recent in a line of deals concluded among countries in the Pacific and nations competing for a defence footprint in the Pacific zone.

The pact possesses significant force and, like a crocodile, its strength demonstrates the interoperability and preparation of the military for war.

A military assault on any signatory would be “a threat to the partner's stability” so both should “act to meet the common danger”.

Enhanced Collaboration

This agreement also included expanded partnership around online security and spectrum operations.

Earlier, the PNG Defence Minister said that the treaty would mean that defence personnel from each country would be “completely unified”.

• To begin with, to limit outside power in PNG by making certain it does not have the comparable reach to infrastructure.
• Furthermore, to address Australia's recent difficulties building defence numbers.
• In conclusion, the pact also sends a message to other global powers.

The advantages of the agreement were multi-faceted, per analysis from a defence analyst.

“PNG has an oversupply of able-bodied citizens who are willing to do this kind of work,” it was explained, stating that numerous individuals would be drawn to the possibilities of moving to Australia and potentially obtaining citizenship.

Area Impact

This agreement is a component of a described as core-and-periphery system of security agreements in the Pacific – with the nation at the core and island nations being the spokes.

Questions have emerged that the treaty may compromise the nation's ‘friends to all, enemies to none’ diplomatic stance by linking the country with its partner on all security matters.

Both sides need enhanced definition on the anticipated outcomes, responsibilities and pledges.

The pact also included yearly combined drills which were about “strategic messaging,” to “highlight joint defence capacity and swift mobilization against outside risks”.

The pact would help update the defence force, bringing a major uplift in both resources and confidence.