{"id":77453,"date":"2023-01-09T15:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T04:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=77453"},"modified":"2023-01-09T14:39:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T03:39:07","slug":"australias-close-bonds-with-papua-new-guinea-can-help-build-a-stronger-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/australias-close-bonds-with-papua-new-guinea-can-help-build-a-stronger-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia\u2019s close bonds with Papua New Guinea can help build a stronger nation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is heading to Papua New Guinea this week for an annual leaders\u2019 dialogue\u2014his first overseas trip for 2023, and the first time an Australian prime minister has visited PNG since 2018 (due more to political turmoil there and the Covid-19 pandemic than to anything else). Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape are no strangers\u2014they met several times last year\u2014and the Australian government is describing this trip as one to reinforce the strong bond between the two countries.<\/p>\n

The relationship between Australia and PNG is a unique one. PNG is Australia\u2019s nearest neighbour, with less than four kilometres separating the countries at their closest point. Historically, the two countries have been strongly linked\u2014from traditional trade across the Torres Strait through to colonial rule and then independence. Now, they have a deep diaspora connection and maintain shared values and close ties.<\/p>\n

In 2019, then\u2013prime minister Scott Morrison and Marape announced \u2018the beginning of a new chapter\u2019 in the bilateral relationship and committed to boosting engagement in security, trade and investment, governance and development. An enhanced comprehensive strategic and economic partnership agreement<\/a> was signed in 2020. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles visited PNG in October, elevating already significant defence cooperation and pursuing a bilateral security treaty, which is being negotiated.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s relationship with PNG is in a very strong position. We\u2019re already \u2018family\u2019. But to keep it that way, we have to stick around and be supportive. Strengthened ties should be balanced with effective development. What comes out of these meetings\u2014for trade, the economy, infrastructure, defence and security, and climate change\u2014should build on Australia\u2019s commitment to foster PNG\u2019s resilience, support its key areas of concern, and strengthen mutual friendship, trust and capabilities.<\/p>\n

Australia provides more aid to PNG<\/a> than to anywhere else in the Pacific. Because of the size of its population, that has always made sense. And late last year, a UN study suggested that PNG\u2019s population could be as high as 17 million, nearly double the government\u2019s estimate of 9 million. Marape admitted<\/a> that he doesn\u2019t know the exact size, and PNG is ill-equipped to deal with its population regardless of how many millions more there may be. Marape\u2019s dreams of PNG becoming \u2018the richest black Christian nation in the world\u2019 are far from becoming a reality, and he recognises that.<\/p>\n

PNG\u2019s 20-year development strategic plan<\/a> seeks, among other things, human development\u2014through education, health care, economic opportunity and increased service delivery to rural areas, all of which Australia is supporting. And, importantly, PNG\u2019s development goals seek to enhance national sovereignty and self-reliance. So, Australia\u2019s responsibility is as much about building national resilience, government functions and a strong economy as it is about direct aid.<\/p>\n

Yet Australia\u2019s national and regional security concerns, while they impact PNG, are not always synonymous with the major security issues PNG faces day to day. Through its defence cooperation program, Australia assists the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, training its personnel, funding its infrastructure and supporting its ability to provide capabilities such as maritime domain awareness and border security. Further flashy offerings\u2014like air capabilities<\/a>\u2014while nice additions for PNG\u2019s security, don\u2019t target the ongoing internal security needs of the country. And although the Australian Federal Police\u2019s work with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary bolsters its capability and capacity, that alone doesn\u2019t tackle the growing list of security issues.<\/p>\n

Tribal warfare, land disputes, forced migration, gender-based and domestic violence, and sorcery-related violence all contribute to a deeply unstable security environment and stifle PNG\u2019s development. These security issues have probably been exacerbated by population growth. Increasingly disruptive climate impacts may also have contributed, and these problems we be more difficult to resolve as climate change intensifies in the years to come. There\u2019s no immediate solution to these issues, and PNG has to be at the forefront of addressing them. Australia\u2019s focus should be on building the country\u2019s sovereign capacity to deal with these issues as self-sufficiently as possible.<\/p>\n

We almost can\u2019t talk about the Pacific without referencing the geostrategic competition in the region. China\u2019s presence in the Pacific, and particularly in the security domain\u2014historically dominated by Australia, New Zealand, the US and France\u2014causes the heart rates of Pacific partners to rise every few weeks. Pacific islands\u2019 autonomy and receptivity is often overlooked in the face of China\u2019s gifts and economic prowess. But, if the West is in a battle against China for influence in the Pacific, we have no greater stronghold than PNG.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s very public status as PNG\u2019s key security partner, and the deep ties on all levels of the two countries\u2019 engagement, doesn\u2019t preclude China from engaging\u2014and nor should we expect it to. Marape has made it clear that he doesn\u2019t want to take sides<\/a>, and his country needs trade with China to sustain its economy and development assistance to sustain its booming population.<\/p>\n

But Australia\u2019s engagement does help PNG to feel secure that it has what it needs, which makes it confident to only take what it wants from China, whether it be aid, development assistance, trade or sometimes security infrastructure and equipment. And PNG has so far proven that it knows how to accept what it wants while maintaining its sovereign ability to make its own decisions in its national interest. PNG doesn\u2019t need, or indeed want, deep security ties with China\u2014due probably in large part to Australia\u2019s cooperation and partnership. And the security engagement it does have with China\u2014equipment donations and subpar infrastructure\u2014don\u2019t make for a lasting relationship.<\/p>\n

Albanese\u2019s trip should focus on PNG\u2019s priorities for its development, through the economy and service delivery. Australia should focus on building PNG\u2019s capacity and resilience\u2014for its internal security challenges, its development goals and its response to climate change impacts. Deeper defence cooperation, and a furthering of the move towards a bilateral security agreement, should also be priorities\u2014as our nations\u2019 strategic security is intrinsically linked.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s strong ties with PNG are important. But, in the long run, dependency won\u2019t support PNG\u2019s development. Australia has a fine line to walk between helping and hindering, and it must make PNG part of the solution instead of dragging it along for the ride. The prime minister\u2019s trip should aim to keep our friend close and help it soar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is heading to Papua New Guinea this week for an annual leaders\u2019 dialogue\u2014his first overseas trip for 2023, and the first time an Australian prime minister has visited PNG since 2018 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1638,"featured_media":77460,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[832,3192,17,285,357,2697],"class_list":["post-77453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-aid","tag-anthony-albanese","tag-australia","tag-foreign-policy","tag-papua-new-guinea","tag-pngdf"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAustralia\u2019s close bonds with Papua New Guinea can help build a stronger nation | The Strategist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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