The U.S. And Papua New Guinea Signed A Self Defense Agreement

Advance details of the agreements were not released by either side, but the new defense cooperation is expected to expand U.S. access to military and other facilities in PNG.

The U.S. and Papua New Guinea have signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement.

The self defense pact is a move that sparked controversy in the pacific island nation and comes as Washington and China are in a tug of war for influence in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and PNG Prime Minister James Marape signed the agreement and a maritime security pact during Blinken’s visit to the capital port Moresby.

Advance details of the agreements were not released by either side, but the new defense cooperation is expected to expand U.S. access to military and other facilities in PNG.

This is also an opportunity for the U.S. to advance its infrastructure and capacity for national defense at a time of growing global security concerns.