Australia and PNG sign agreement for naval base

Papua New Guinea and Australia reached another milestone in their bilateral relationship with the recent signing of the memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) for the joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base.
The agreement for the Lombrum Joint Initiative was signed in Canberra on Friday by defence secretaries Trevor Meauri (PNG) and Greg Moriaety (Australia) and Commander Major-Gen Gilbert Toropo (PNG) and Gen Angus Campbell (Australia).
Meauri said the MoU formalised the joint announcement by prime ministers Peter O’Neill and Scott Morrison on Nov 1 last year.
“It is a defence-to-defence understanding, and helps to guide collaboration between the two countries to redevelop facilities at Lombrum Naval Base,” he said.
“The initiative will also increase interoperability between the two defence forces and provide greater opportunities for training and joint activities.”
Meauri said it would also enhance PNG Defence Force capability to protect Papua New Guinea’s borders and maritime resources, through a broad programme of mentoring, tailored training, and infrastructure development.
“We recently acquired the Pacific Guardian Class patrol boats for our navy,” he said.
“We have to upgrade our facilities to accommodate these modern, bigger boats.
“That is what we will do under this MoU in Lombrum.”
Meauri said it was a step up from the existing defence cooperation programme between the two countries.
He also said he and Defence Minister Solan Mirisim met with Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin and Open MP Job Pomat last month to clarify meaning of the joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base.
On Nov 19 last year, US Vice-President Mike Pence when attending the Apec Leaders’ Summit, announced the US support to build the naval base together with Australia and Papua New Guinea.