Australia’s Albanese unable to clinch defense treaty with Papua New Guinea during visit

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left Papua New Guinea on Wednesday without the defense treaty he had signaled would be finalized during the three-day visit, as a cabinet meeting to endorse the agreement did not take place.

Both governments released a communique saying the text had been agreed in principle and would be signed "following Cabinet processes in both countries." Albanese had said the pact would elevate Papua New Guinea to Australia’s third security partner after the United States and New Zealand. The delay underscores the careful decision-making that surrounds security deals in the South Pacific, where governments balance sovereignty, domestic concerns and regional influence, particularly after Beijing’s 2022 security pact with the Solomon Islands drew heightened attention to the region.

Albanese’s three-day trip also included a stop in Vanuatu in the hopes of signing a separate bilateral security and economic treaty, but negotiations stalled there as well. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat cited concerns within his government that the deal could constrain the ability to raise money for critical infrastructure from third countries, including China.

Back in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said there were no sticking points, but declined to say whether all ministers supported the pact, citing Cabinet confidentiality. "There is no sticking point," Marape said, and he noted he was not concerned that China would use the delay to pressure ministers to reach a conclusion. "Please let’s give respect to China," he added, and he indicated the delay did not imply external interference.

Albanese defended the slow pace of the talks, saying democracies differ from authoritarian regimes and go through process-driven steps that respect sovereignty. "Democracies aren’t the same as authoritarian regimes. They go through processes. We respect them," he said, noting that Papua New Guinea would sign the agreement after its Cabinet completes its work while stressing that the words in the treaty had been agreed.

Analysts say the pact would have signaled a deeper security alignment with Australia and indicated Canberra’s willingness to expand security commitments in the Pacific. It would also test the region’s appetite for closer ties with Australia as Beijing’s influence grows, particularly after the Solomon Islands deal that raised fears of a Chinese naval presence in the South Pacific.

Albanese is preparing for an anticipated first in-person meeting with U.S. PresidentDonald Trump, who has signaled a potential engagement when the Australian leader attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Australian officials have not confirmed a meeting, but Trump told reporters outside the White House that Albanese was "coming over to see me very soon." The remarks come as Washington weighs how to balance security commitments with allies in the region amid questions about Trump’s foreign-policy stance.

Port Moresby officials say progress remains possible, and the next steps will be shaped by cabinet processes in both countries. The PNG government has emphasized sovereignty, while Australia has underscored the importance of regional security in the face of rising Chinese influence.

Context matters in the broader arc of Pacific diplomacy. In 2022, Beijing forged a security deal with the Solomon Islands, triggering concern in Canberra and Washington about a potential Chinese presence in the region. The PNG talks are part of a broader push by Australia and its partners to strengthen defenses and governance institutions across the Pacific, while respecting the domestic timelines and political calculations of each island state.

Ultimately, the delays illustrate the balancing act in Pacific diplomacy — moving to strengthen security guarantees while respecting domestic procedures, budgets and sovereignty. As the region continues to navigate great-power competition, officials say patience and ongoing dialogue will be essential to translating intentions into formal arrangements.