Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Reuters: US military carried out a new strike targeting a ship in the Caribbean Sea
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids targeted a cement plant, an asphalt factory, and fuel tanks in the Ansar area in South Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A series of violent Israeli raids targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of the town of Shmestar in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon
Donald Trump will speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday: White House
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes raid the town of Bnaafoul, Saida district
YAF: Israeli enemy will pay for this crime.
Yemeni Armed Forces: Son of Major General Al-Ghamari martyred alongside him in Israeli aggression.
Yemeni Armed Forces: YAF mourns martyrdom of Chief of the General Staff Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Palestinian shot and killed by IOF east of Al-Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip

US, Papua New Guinea to sign new defense cooperation accords

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 May 2023 20:47
2 Min Read

The new defense agreements between Papua New Guinea and the US allow US troops unrestricted access to ports and airports in the country.

  • x
  • A small boat travels past the stilt house village called Hanuabada, located in Port Moresby Harbour, Papua New Guinea, November 19, 2018. (Reueters)
    A small boat travels past the stilt house village called Hanuabada, located in Port Moresby Harbour, Papua New Guinea, November 19, 2018 (Reuters)

As Washington seeks to increase its influence in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, announced that the country will sign a new security pact with the US, allowing its troops access to all the nation's ports and airports.

According to Marape, after securing parliamentary approval, the two countries will sign two agreements that will be focused on defense cooperation and maritime surveillance. 

Marape argued, "We are elevating to a specific defense cooperation agreement, something that is falling short of a treaty," adding, "We are moving ahead, we are signing with the best military on the face of planet Earth."

The US, in the newly drafted agreements, will have unrestricted access to Papua New Guinea's water, thus securing vital movement in waters near sea routes to Australia and Japan. In return, Marape claimed Papua New Guinea will obtain access to US satellite surveillance.

Related News

S.Korea, Japan, China discuss resuming trilateral summit in late May

Pro-China PM retains his seat in Solomon Islands election

"It now gives us an opportune time to focus not just on maritime access but satellite access on... illegal activities on the high sea," Marape said.

A leaked draft version of the defense cooperation agreement noted that US forces would have extended autonomy at some of the country's primary entry points. However, Marape stated that any access to the country would have to be approved by his government. 

"The ports, the infrastructure... will not in any way stand to be exclusively used by the military," he said before adding that "they would always be asking our defense to have access to our facilities."

While the US aimed to strengthen its influence in the Pacific in the face of China, Marape announced that despite the new pact with Washington, the country would not be prevented from negotiating similar agreements with various nations, including China.

Moreover, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to Marape, will attend the summit of Pacific leaders, on Monday, in Port Moresby after US President Joe Biden canceled his previously-expected trip due to the ongoing debt ceiling crisis in Washington.

Read more: Countering Beijing in S. China Sea key topic in US, Philippines talks

  • Asia Pacific
  • US
  • China
  • Papua New Guinea

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The bodies of deceased Palestinians, held by Israel during the war, lie in plastic bags on the floor of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, following their release, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' returns 30 Palestinian bodies; some bear marks of torture

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of war debris as crisis deepens
Politics

Gaza buried under 70 million tons of debris, 20,000 lingering UXOs

Ex-White House adviser Ashley Tellis charged over secret files
Politics

Ex-White House advisor accused of amassing troves of top secret files

An Israeli soldier rests by a mobile artillery unit at a gathering point on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern “Israel”, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Global arms bans isolate 'Israel', yet its war machine keeps running

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS