PNG police force to be boosted under K490 million security deal with Australia

Papua New Guinea and Australia will increase cooperation on policing and security under a major deal signed by Prime Minister James Marape and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra today.

The K490 million ($200 million) agreement will see Australia helping to support PNG's internal security, from police to courts to correctional services, as well as to combat gender-based violence.

Mr Marape said the security agreement with Australia showed PNG had a foreign policy of "friends to all".

The deal will see Australia increase its training commitment in PNG, with expert support to help build the capacity of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC).

It comes as Papua New Guinea looks to its neighbour to help address its increasing law and order problems.

Australian PM describes the agreement as historical

Speaking alongside Mr Marape in Canberra, Mr Albanese called the deal "a comprehensive and historical agreement" and a "natural progression" in the relationship between the two countries.

"It will make it easier for Australia to help PNG address its internal security needs and for Australia and Papua New Guinea to support each other's security, and the region's stability," he said.

"Policing and domestic security are our priorities for my friend [Mr Marape], they are essential for the economic development of PNG and for the welfare of the people that great nation."

“Australian police officers will work under the command and control of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Police Commissioner,” Mr Marape said earlier this week.

“Both Australia and ourselves have shared borders, and we have shared interest, especially interest on our border area.

“Our economic [and] trade interest will be embraced in the stepped-up security cooperation.”

The national government’s plans to increase the manpower of the RPNGC will also be boosted under the agreement, with Australian taxpayers’ money to set up a regional police training academy in Port Moresby, to help provide training to the RPNGC as well as other Pacific police forces.

Geopolitical influence race in the Pacific

In May PNG's government signed a military agreement with the United States giving the US Navy rights to patrol its vast ocean.

PNG also continues to maintain its trade relationship with China, and benefits from infrastructure monies under the Belt and Road initiative.

Mihai Sora, from the Australian think tank the Lowy Institute, called the pact with Australia "very significant".

"It is a building block in the regional security order and comes at a time of intense geopolitical competition in the region," he told Australia's ABC.

He said the deal would help PNG address its "internal security concerns" and build up its police and defence capabilities.

"It is really about Australia being the primary security partner to Papua New Guinea," he added.

The agreement caps off a busy 12 months of diplomatic relations between PNG and Australia.

In January Mr Albanese made a state visit to Port Moresby, where he addressed the National Parliament.

Mr Marape will extend his visit in Australia until next week, to attend the PNG Resources and Energy Investment Conference & Exhibition set for December 10-13 at the International Convention Centre in Sydney.