|
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday a defence
cooperation deal signed with PNG earlier that day would expand
the Pacific island nation's 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.
"It's not a military base to be set up here for war to be
launched," he told radio station 100FM.
"There's 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," 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's 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.
"There will be substantial infrastructure investment" 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 defence cooperation agreement between
its closest neighbour and the United States.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Robert Birsel)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
