On Wednesday, July 22, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed an “Intention of Defense Cooperation 2026-2029” agreement, further deepening cooperation between the two countries in defense dialogues, military training, joint exercises, and personnel exchanges. With the continuous expansion of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence in the Pacific region, this move is also seen as an important step for New Zealand to enhance regional security cooperation.
According to information released by the New Zealand government, New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk and Papua New Guinea Defense Minister Elias Kapavore jointly signed the “Statement of Intent on Defense Cooperation 2026-2029” between the two countries on that day.
Penk stated that in the current increasingly turbulent international situation, Pacific countries can only effectively address the escalating security challenges in the region through enhanced cooperation. According to the agreement, both parties will expand defense dialogues, military training, joint exercises, and military personnel exchanges in the future to further enhance the level of defense cooperation between the two countries.
This agreement signed is based on the “New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Statement of Partnership 2025-2029” signed by the two countries last year. The statement reaffirms the cooperation relationship between the two parties in the areas of security, defense, and trade.
Reuters reported that New Zealand’s signing of a defense cooperation agreement with PNG this time is part of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States’ accelerated efforts to strengthen security partnerships in the Pacific region in recent years. This move comes at a time when China continues to expand its influence in the Pacific region, leading to increasing regional strategic competition.
In 2023, the United States signed a defense cooperation agreement with PNG to provide easier access for U.S. military training and infrastructure construction in the area. In recent years, Australia has also reached security cooperation arrangements with PNG and Vanuatu, and established a common defense mechanism with Fiji called the “Ocean of Peace Alliance.” Australian officials stated that this mechanism is expected to be open to more Pacific countries in the future.
The report points out that despite Beijing’s failed attempt in 2022 to establish a “regional security agreement” with multiple Pacific Island countries, its influence in the region continues to expand through police cooperation, security assistance, and infrastructure investments, including establishing a “security cooperation relationship” with the Solomon Islands.
Moreover, PNG’s recent closure of Taiwan’s embassy-like office in Port Moresby highlights the Pacific Island nations’ balancing act between accepting support from traditional security partners like the United States and Australia while also seeking to maintain economic and trade relationships with China.
During his visit to PNG, Penk will also attend the Pacific Islands Forum’s Ministerial Meeting on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Penk noted that as digital technology increasingly becomes a crucial pillar for security and prosperity in the Pacific region, New Zealand will continue to be an active and constructive partner, promoting regional digital transformation, fostering economic development, and deepening cybersecurity cooperation.
He emphasized that the ICT Ministerial Meeting is a new cooperative mechanism established by the Pacific Islands Forum in recent years, aimed at bringing together technology policymakers from various Pacific countries to jointly plan regional digital transformation and the development direction of emerging technologies. He stated that New Zealand will continue to support regional cooperation in the Pacific and work together to build a more interconnected, inclusive digital Pacific.
The New Zealand government announced that they will host the Pacific Islands Forum summit in 2027.
Public data shows that Papua New Guinea is the most populous island country in the Pacific region and an important regional cooperation partner of New Zealand. In recent years, as strategic competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific region, New Zealand has been deepening cooperation with Pacific Island nations in defense, security, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and infrastructure to enhance regional security resilience and response capabilities.