Papua New Guinea / PNG
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Conflicts - Tensions
Unpacking China’s Economic Statecraft
Peter Connolly Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping met eight Pacific Island leaders in Port Moresby on November 16, 2018, and elevated their relationships to “comprehensive strategic partnerships.” Xi then encouraged those who had not joined his Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to do so. Papua New Guinea (PNG) had led the way by signing a BRI memorandum…
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Oceania
Papua New Guinea Defence Force training focuses on Women, Peace & Security
FORUM Staff The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) provided specialized training in March 2023 aimed at reducing gender-based violence, incorporating gender perspectives and recognizing gender-specific security needs. At the request of the PNGDF Gender Committee, the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Office of Women, Peace & Security (WPS) designed, developed and led the Gender Focal Point course. It was…
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Oceania
Papua New Guinea, UK solidify defense relationship
Benar News Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom renewed their defense relationship in late April 2023 by signing a broad security agreement. The status of forces agreement — a pact generally used by countries to establish rules under which foreign military personnel operate in a country — was signed in Port Moresby by the nations’ foreign ministers and comes…
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Global Commons
Indo-Pacific partners boost Papua New Guinea’s power grid
Marc Jacob Prosser Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States are collaborating with Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide 70% of the Pacific Island Country’s population with reliable, grid-connected electricity by 2030. Many of the projects tie in with the U.S. $1.7 billion Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership (PEP), established in 2018 to encourage private-public collaboration. The partnership aims…
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Key Issues
Australia, Papua New Guinea finalizing new security pact
The Associated Press Australia and Papua New Guinea are finalizing a new security treaty, the neighboring nations’ leaders said in January 2023, a move seen as a counter to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) growing assertiveness in the region. Details of the planned treaty weren’t released, but Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he expected negotiations to conclude in…
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Indo-Pacific
Papua New Guinea bolstering defense cooperation with Australia, U.S.
FORUM Staff The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) will boost collaboration with the Australian and United States militaries under new security agreements, including through bilateral exercises and joint maritime patrols, leaders said in mid-October 2022. A proposed treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea would bring cooperation “even closer, where we are having defense personnel working alongside each other…
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Across The Region
Port Partnership
Australia announced in January 2022 that it would provide U.S. $420 million to Pacific neighbor Papua New Guinea to upgrade key ports, amid concern in Washington and Canberra that Beijing’s infrastructure investment in the Pacific islands has a military ambition. Australia’s funding will help the Papua New Guinea Ports Corp. increase capacity to accommodate larger ships, including container ships on…
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