Aust welcomes US involvement in the Pacific

By REBECCA KUKU
AUSTRALIA has welcomed the United State’s (US) presence in the Pacific and says it will continue to encourage other countries to work with the Pacific as well.
In March, the Coast Guard Cutter, offered to partner with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel to protect its waters.
The Coast Guard ship rider agreement will allow US and PNG to work together to combat illegal fishing, illegal logging, and thwart the smuggling of drugs, guns, and most importantly people (human trafficking).
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said his country was happy to see the US enter into agreements and partner with Pacific countries and Australia would also continue to support Pacific nations including PNG.
“From Australia’s point of view, our focus is on the people of the Pacific and working on ways in which we can develop the Pacific,” Marles said.
“There are also other countries that can help as well, and we’ve seen the US step up in a huge way, and we welcome the steps taken by the US and their focus on developing the Pacific.”
Marles said New Zealand, France and Japan were also doing work in the Pacific and his government encouraged other developed nations to engage and work with Pacific counties.
Meanwhile, Australia is looking to strengthen PNG’s aviation sector.
He said aviation was a topic he had discussed with Defence Ministers over time and Australia had given 50 aircrafts to the PNGDF to strengthen the country’s aviation over the years.