 "Indonesia Ambassador to Papua New Guinea (PNG) Andrianna Supandy (2nd-R) shares defence force agreement copy with PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko (3rd-L), PNG Defence Force Secretary John Akipe (2nd L) and acting PNG Defence Force Commander Commodore Philip Polewara (R) during a ceremony in the capital city Port Moresby on February 29, 2024. Source: AFP")
After nearly 14 years of signing the defence cooperation deal, Papua New Guinea has finally ratified a defence pact with Indonesia, the government said in a statement.
In 2010, both nations inked the defence cooperation deal when they agreed to share military intelligence, give logistical support and coordinate security operations.
Though Indonesia ratified the document years ago, Papua New Guinea’s parliament only did so on February 14 this year, with the government formally bringing it into force a week later.
Why this delay?
The relations of Papua New Guinea with Indonesia have been sour since Jakarta annexed West Papua after a contested vote of tribal representatives in 1969.
The pro-independence Free Papua Movement has waged a low-level insurgency against the Indonesian military for decades, leading to refugees, Indonesian forces and rebels crossing West Papua’s long border with Papua New Guinea.
“Security is a cornerstone of trade, investment and business,” Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said in a statement this week.
“In PNG we hope to speak to our security challenges… along our 800-kilometre (500-mile) border corridor,” the minister said.
This would help build “some of our security capabilities and capacities”, he added.
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More ShortsWith inputs from AFP