Papua New Guinea will sign a defense pact with the United States on Monday, giving American troops access to its airfields and ports as Washington competes with China’s growing presence in the Pacific.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Port Moresby on Monday morning, where he will host a summit today with 14 South Pacific island nations seeking to reaffirm his country’s role as a power Indo-Pacific in the face of the rise of China. . Blinken will meet with the same leaders of Pacific island nations as the United States seeks to counter China’s growing economic, political and military presence.
By signing a security agreement with Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape, Blinken will also expand the regional capabilities of the US military.
Beijing signed a secret security pact with the Solomon Islands last year that allows China to station troops in the country.
The United States fears that a Chinese military foothold in the South Pacific could make it more difficult to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion from Beijing.
The State Department said the compact with Papua New Guinea “will enhance security cooperation and further strengthen our bilateral relationship, enhance the capacity of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, and enhance stability and security in the region”.
Marape last week said that as part of the deal, Washington would get the right to travel in the country’s waters in exchange for access to US satellite surveillance to combat “illegal activities on the high seas”. .
The agreement will not prevent Papua New Guinea from signing similar agreements with other countries, including China, he said.
Blinken will replace Joe Biden at the summit after the US president canceled a trip to attend debt ceiling talks in Washington.
After visiting a US-funded HIV/AIDS clinic, Blinken is to hold bilateral talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Marape before signing a defense agreement.
The United States has also pledged $45 million to Papua New Guinea to fight organized crime, climate change and HIV/AIDS, as well as protective gear for the military, the Department of Defense said. ‘State.
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