CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 17 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
Papua New Guinea and Australia have agreed on the text of a Mutual Defence Treaty, which will be signed following Cabinet processes in both countries.
The signing of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty - the Pukpuk Treaty - will elevate the defence relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia to an Alliance.
The core principles of the Pukpuk Treaty will include:
* a mutual defence Alliance which recognises that an armed attack on Australia or Papua New Guinea would be a danger to the peace and security of both countries;* expansion and modernisation of our defence relationship, including by setting out our shared ambiti...