Australia and Papua New Guinea have postponed signing a major mutual defense treaty, Canberra’s latest stumble as it seeks to counterbalance Beijing’s expanding presence and clout in the Pacific region.
In a joint communique, the two sides said that the treaty, initially expected to be signed Wednesday alongside celebrations for PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence from Australia, would now only be clinched “following Cabinet processes in both countries.”
“We will go through our respective Cabinet processes and expect to finalize the signing of the treaty, the words of which have been agreed, in coming weeks,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a news conference in the Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby following the communique ceremony.
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