FILE PHOTO: Papua New Guinea鈥檚 Prime Minister James Marape arrives to attend APEC Leader鈥檚 Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, November 18, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Lillian Suwanrumpha/Pool via REUTERS
SYDNEY 鈥� Papua New Guinea (PNG) will not be used as a base for 鈥渨ar to be launched鈥�, and a defense agreement with the United States prohibited 鈥渙ffensive military operations鈥�, its prime minister said on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday a defense cooperation deal signed with PNG earlier that day would expand the Pacific island nation鈥檚 capabilities and make it easier for the U.S. military to train with its forces.
The deal sparked student protests amid concern it could embroil PNG in strategic competition between the U.S. and China.
Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement was not a treaty and did not need to be ratified by parliament, adding he would release it in full for public scrutiny on Thursday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a military base to be set up here for war to be launched,鈥� he told radio station 100FM.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a specific clause that says that this partnership is not a partnership for PNG to be used as a place for launching offensive military operations from Papua New Guinea,鈥� he said.
The United States and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific island nations from building security ties with China, a rising concern amid tension over Taiwan, and after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year.
China has been a major infrastructure investor in PNG, which sits near important sea lanes and international submarine cables linking the United States and ally Australia, that were crucial in World War Two.
Marape said PNG鈥檚 military is the weakest in the region at a time of high tensions. The boost provided by the United States would also improve domestic security and encourage more foreign investors to set up in the country of 9 million that is rich in natural resources but largely undeveloped.
鈥淭here will be substantial infrastructure investment鈥� flowing from the deal, in airports, ports, roads, communications and electricity to benefit the public, he said, while not giving details.
Subsidiary agreements that will determine how the U.S. military and civilian contractors come into PNG are being worked out, he said.
Australia has welcomed the defense cooperation agreement between its closest neighbor and the United States.
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