Papua New Guinea approves contentious defence treaty with Australia: officials | International

SYDNEY, Oct 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Papua New Guinea's cabinet has approved a contentious mutual defence treaty with Australia, officials told AFP on Thursday, as Canberra seeks to deepen ties with Pacific nations and counter Beijing's rising influence. The deal will see the two nations commit to defending each other from armed attacks as they face "emerging threats" to their security. But it ran into controversy in Papua New Guinea over fears it would erode the country's hard-fought sovereignty and non-aligned foreign policy. Officials from the Pacific nation's government's legal office and foreign ministry confirmed the cabinet had approved the deal on Wednesday. The agreement will now go to the country's parliament for ratification. The deal -- known as the...