PNG-US pact on cooperation

ON May 22 last year, Papua New Guinea and the United States (US) concluded two agreements on security – the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) and an Agreement Concerning Counter Illicit Transnational Maritime Activity Operations.
In simple terms, it was a new bilateral defence cooperation pact, along with a maritime security agreement. Interestingly, it came at a time when there was some elbowing by China for influence in the Pacific.
Prime Minister James Marape and US secretary of state Antony Blinken signed these agreements during the latter’s visit to Port Moresby at that time.
The PNG Parliament will open its 2024 sessions today. And, according to experts, the two security pacts (and others) will have to go before Parliament for its approval.
A PNG-Australia bilateral security agreement, signed on Dec 7 last year between Marape and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was aimed at addressing PNG’s internal security affairs in policing, defence and the judiciary.
According to Albanese, the security agreement with Australia was “comprehensive and historic. It will make it easier for Australia to help PNG address its internal security needs”.
For Papua New Guinea, China’s assertion is evident, especially in the areas of its rapidly-expanding business enterprises, trade, and the harvesting of the country’s natural resources.
The Asian nation had also made known its interests in other areas of “assistance” to this Pacific’s largest island nation.
And, there were indications at the country’s political circles that more was in store for the two countries, including public statements by Government Minister Justin Tkatchenko that “PNG and China were in early talks” concerning security in the region.
What did transpire and what had been advanced on either side remain unknown.
Media agencies had pointed out the strategic significance of the Pacific.
Washington, along with New Zealand and Australia, is eyeing the region with renewed importance. Washington wants a bigger say and to make its presence felt in Asia today never like before. However, China is also advancing. In recent years, China has reportedly expanded its naval capabilities.
Among the Pacific Island nations, China did make inroads by signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022. Off the cuff, one can say Beijing will continue in its attempt to ink regional trade and security deals with island nations in the region.
Prime Minister Marape, however, made it very clear when signing the pact with US’ Blinken.
The agreement with the US was an opportunity to advance PNG’s infrastructure and capacity for national defence as a time of growing global security concerns.
A joint statement released by Marape and Blinken explained: “Papua New Guinea does not have enemies but it pays to be prepared. Territorial dispute is (imminent), as in the case of Ukraine-Russia.
“This agreement is not about geopolitics but rather recognises the country’s need to build its defence capabilities because border disputes are inevitable in the future,” the statement said, adding it did not preclude the government from “working with” other countries, including China.
On the May 2023 signing, the US, through a statement released by its diplomatic office in Port Moresby, said: “This DCA (Defence Cooperation Agreement) represents a natural progression in our decades of defence cooperation with Papua New Guinea. The agreement will modernise our security relationship and replace an outdated Status of Forces Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding regarding defence cooperation.
“The US-PNG DCA will form the foundational framework around which our two countries will enhance security cooperation, further strengthen our bilateral relationship, improve the capacity of the PNG Defence Force, and increase stability and security in the region.
“This DCA will facilitate bilateral and multilateral exercises and engagements in support of regional capacity-building priorities. It also enables the United States to be more responsive in emergency situations, such as those involving humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
“America’s close partnerships with like-minded democratic countries are a tremendous source of stability and strength. The DCA reflects the US commitment to reinvigorate and modernise our democratic partnerships around the world to advance our shared security and prosperity.”
On the new Agreement Concerning Counter Illicit Transnational Maritime Activity Operations, the embassy said: “It addresses a range of maritime threats including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit transport of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
“This agreement adds to the 11 existing agreements within the Pacific Island region and strengthens maritime governance and enforcement globally.
“This new agreement will enable PNG to participate in the US Coast Guard’s Shiprider programme, enhancing PNG’s organic enforcement capabilities, improving overall maritime domain awareness, and helping PNG protect its sovereignty.”
Under Shiprider, PNG personnel will work alongside their US counterparts on board vessels using latest technologies to monitor and deter any illegal activities at sea, such as illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking and arms smuggling to name a few.
“The agreement will provide an expedited mechanism for obtaining flag State consent to board and search vessels reasonably suspected of illicit trafficking, as well as promote robust cooperation and information-sharing between the United States and PNG,” the embassy statement said.
Blinken told Marape: “We (United States) are deeply invested in the Indo-Pacific because our planet’s future is being written here.
“Papua New Guinea is playing a critical role in shaping that future, from tackling the climate crisis to improving public health to enhancing disaster preparedness and response.
“We’re working together as regional security partners.
“We’re boosting our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific though the US strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability.
“We’re driving economic opportunity through partnerships between our businesses, which are bringing tens of billions in new investment to Papua New Guinea.
“And we are teaming up to bring preventative, lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment to people here in Papua New Guinea so that they can continue to lead healthy and productive lives.
“Simply put, we are committed to growing all aspects of our relationship. And to that end, today, we’re signing two agreements on defence and on maritime cooperation.”
Blinken said the Defence Cooperation Agreement, drafted by Papua New Guinea and the United States as equal and sovereign partners, would enhance the PNG Defence Force’s capability to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including through providing medical care and temporary shelter to those who are affected by crises.
He said the agreement would also make it easy for PNG and US forces to train together in new ways and in more places “as part of our joint effort to uphold peace and security across the Indo-Pacific.
“We will be fully transparent of the details of the agreement, which contains elements from our previous agreement and updates to reflect our shared commitment to deepen cooperation on issues that matter most to people here as well as in the United States,” he explained
The Shiprider Agreement would allow the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and the US Coast Guard to deepen cooperation to combat illicit maritime activities, including illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which we know is destroying livelihoods and threatening green ecosystems that nourish Pacific Island economies, Blinken said.
At more than 2.4 million square kilometres, the PNG’s Exclusive Economic Zone is one of the largest in the South Pacific. That poses a tremendous economic opportunity but also a serious challenge for monitoring, for controlling, for surveilling that vast expanse of maritime area.
“Under this agreement, our forces will be able to board one another’s vessels, share technical expertise, and ultimately better patrol the seas together. This is vital to protecting livelihoods for generations to come.
“For nearly 50 years, Papua New Guinea and the United States have worked together to deliver prosperity for our people and promote security and stability for the region.
I think what’s so important is that shared history is also a living history, and together – even as we’re inspired by so much that we’ve done in the past – we are working together to shape the future.
“That’s the task before us. And, Mr prime minister, we are looking forward to taking our partnership to the next level,” Blinken said. – Agencies