New Zealand signs defence cooperation pact with Papua New Guinea

New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk and Papua New Guinea Defence Minister Elias Kapavore signed a Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation for 2026‑2029 in Port Moresby. The agreement expands defence dialogue, joint training, military exercises and personnel exchanges between the two countries.

The pact is part of a broader push by New Zealand, Australia and the United States to cement security ties across the Pacific as China expands its diplomatic, policing and infrastructure presence in the region. Washington signed a similar cooperation deal with PNG in 2023, and Australia has pursued mutual‑defence arrangements with Fiji and Vanuatu. Recent moves, such as PNG’s closure of Taiwan’s office in Port Moresby, underline the strategic competition shaping Pacific governments’ choices.

The new arrangement aims to strengthen collective security and enhance the capacity of Pacific nations to respond to emerging challenges in an increasingly volatile environment.