The United States and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are set to negotiate a defence cooperation agreement just after Australia and the southern Pacific nation agreed to a broad-reaching security agreement with neighbouring Australia.
PNG will send a delegation to Honolulu in February for high-level discussions, but the agreement is expected to be completed by the middle of the year.
PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, said that the agreement would provide a framework for future joint programs and increase engagement between the two countries.
“They will also help with America’s investment into capacity building of the PNG defence force, in training, infrastructure, and other items that have to do with defence,” he said….