The United States signed an important security pact with Papua New Guinea on Monday. The background to this is the increasing strategic competition between the USA and China in the South Pacific. The treaty is intended to give American forces access to ports and airports in the island nation, including military bases. The document was signed on Monday during a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape in the capital Port Moresby.

Till Fähnders

Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.

  • Follow I follow

In addition, the two sides should agree on a strategic dialogue. Blinken also held out the prospect of increased cooperation with Papua New Guinea and millions in aid for its military. Another agreement should allow for joint sea patrols with the U.S. Coast Guard to combat criminal activities such as illegal fishing off the coast of Papua New Guinea.

With the agreement, Washington is trying to counter China's growing influence in the area. Two years ago, a secret security pact between China and the Solomon Islands caused a stir because it was supposed to allow Chinese soldiers and police to be sent to the Pacific island nation. With the new agreement, the US has taken a decisive step to its advantage in the competition for military access to the island states. The details of the pact will not be published until after it comes into force. Papua New Guinea is located in a strategically important area north of Australia, which was also the scene of various battles during the Second World War.

Joe Biden cancels his visit at short notice

Last week, several Australian and New Zealand media outlets were leaked an alleged draft of the agreement. According to this, the American armed forces would have unhindered access to the waters and territories of Papua New Guinea. Among other things, the ports and airports of Port Moresby and the second largest city of Lae, the naval base Lombrum and Momote Airport on the island of Los Negros were mentioned. The U.S. had recently concluded similar agreements with the Philippines. Controversial in Papua New Guinea was an alleged passage that was supposed to grant the American soldiers immunity from the jurisdiction of the country.

In Papua New Guinea, the pact also raises fears that the country could be drawn into an increasing militarization of the strategically important region. The agreement is also seen by some as a provocation against China, which has increased financial support for Papua New Guinea in recent years. Several rallies were held against the pact. Marape explained that his country will work with different countries equally, in addition to the United States with Australia, but also with China. His country has maintained military relations with the United States for decades. Above all, Papua New Guinea wants to expand its own defense capability.

With the signing, the United States has achieved a considerable strategic success. On the negative side, however, was the fact that President Joe Biden cancelled his planned trip to Papua New Guinea and Australia last week at short notice due to the budget dispute in the USA. Biden had traveled back to Washington right after the G-7 summit in Japan. Papua New Guinea had been preparing for the visit for months and even declared Monday a day of vacation. Biden would have been the first sitting American president to visit the island nation. In 2018, then-Vice President Mike Pence attended the APEC summit in Port Moresby. However, he had only flown in from Australia for a few hours. China's state and party leader Xi Jinping had taken two days for his visit at the time.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also treated with special attention in Port Moresby. He had travelled from Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday evening, where he had attended the G20 summit as a guest as this year's G-7 chairman. According to observers, Marape Modi, representing India, had asked at their meeting to take on a leading role as a "third force" in the geopolitical power struggle for the Global South. Port Moresby also hosted the Pacific Island Forum summit on Monday, which was attended by 14 heads of state and government of Pacific island nations, including New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.