Australia and Papua New Guinea sign bilateral security agreement

Cyber security will be a key plank of the new agreement between the Pacific neighbours.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape have signed a bilateral security agreement that will increase cooperation between the countries across a range of areas.

In a joint statement released on 7 December, the pair said the agreement would “elevate our security relationship to advance shared security interests while contributing to our region’s security”.

While the agreement notes the agreement will cover the “traditional areas of defence, policing, border and maritime security”, it will also cover cyber security, as well as critical infrastructure, gender-based violence, and climate change.

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“We have agreed full circle support for Papua New Guinea’s internal security, from police to courts to correctional services,” the two leaders said. “This includes initiatives that reflect the bilateral security agreement’s focus on climate change, gender-based violence and cyber.”

In detail, the agreement recognises that “non-traditional” threats such as cyber security and climate change are a challenge, one that can only be met by mutual security cooperation. To that end, Australia and Papua New Guinea have agreed to share information across all points mentioned in the agreement and to consult with each other in the case of any “security-related development that threatens the sovereignty, peace or stability” of either country, or the region at large.

Addressing the media after signing the agreement, Albanese said it was a natural move to deepen the relationship between the two countries.

“It will make it easier for Australia to help PNG address its internal security needs and for Australia and Papua New Guinea to support each other’s security and the region’s stability,” Albanese said.

David Hollingworth

David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.