TRILATERAL TO BOOST COORPERATION SAYS MINISTER JOSEPH | AUSTRALIA COMMITS TO ANNUAL MEET

By Nigel Mado

As Papua New Guinea continues to work towards strengthening regional ties with her neighbours, yesterday morning saw a pivotal step come to fruition as delegations from all three states of Australia, Indonesia and PNG commence a first trilateral meet since the inking of the Mutual Defense Traty with Australia.

PNG Defence Minister Billy Joseph in his remarks stated that this was a significant moment for all three nations as all three share intertwined security and prosperity challenges. He said as neighbours who share borders, maritime spaces, cultural linkages and deep strategic interests, it is therefore essential that we come together in the spirit of cooperation, dialogue and mutual respect.

He acknowledged the attendance of His Excellency Dr Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and the Indonesian delegation, and Richard Marles – the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia – together with the Australian delegation for being here.

He said these developments reflect a clear and common understanding that our region faces increasingly complex security challenges that no single country can address alone. Against this spectrum, it is both timely and fitting that Papua New Guinea, Australia and Indonesia meet collectively at ministerial level.

The trilateral meeting allows the Tripartite to deepen trust, harmonise approaches and enhance coordination on issues that affect all of three, including border management, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster responses, defence capability development and broader regional peace and stability.

He added that these discussions today will lay the foundation for a stronger trilateral relationship one built on transparency, shared responsibility and mutual benefit.

Australia has hinted that they are committed to inking a potential Common Security Treaty as the Tripartite Delegations today commence the first trilateral talks in Port Moresby. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles yesterday morning expressed that he agrees with Minister Joseph and that this trilateral makes history.

He agreed that all three nations share a region and this meeting is critically important. Marles said despite all three having deep strategic trust that is not something that should be taken for granted but needs to be nurtured and deepened and progressed each and every day, and that’s what this trilateral will do.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes this is not a one-off. It is in the interest of all parties for this now to be a piece of the regional architecture between all three countries, and will meet as three defence ministers each and every year from here on in.