Australia and Papua New Guinea Launch Pukpuk Mutual Defence Treaty

Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape announced the entry into force of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, on July 8, 2026. The announcement followed the sixth Annual Leaders’ Dialogue in Brisbane. The agreement marks Papua New Guinea's first-ever defence alliance and Australia's first new alliance in more than seven decades.

The treaty establishes a mutual defence framework where an armed attack on either nation is recognized as a threat to both. The pact deepens cooperation through intelligence sharing, logistics, training, and the integration of the two countries' defence forces. A central provision includes the creation of a joint taskforce to provide a pathway for up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force.

While the leaders frame the treaty as a means to safeguard national sovereignty and enhance regional stability, the Government of China and a former Papua New Guinea Defence Force commander have criticized the pact for infringing upon Papua New Guinea's independence. Beyond security, Albanese and Marape used the dialogue to discuss labor mobility, health infrastructure, and the development of a National Rugby League franchise called the PNG Chiefs, noting that trade between the nations reached $10 billion in 2025.