Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said there is a "high possibility" his country would not enter a potential conflict between Australia and China, despite signing a major new defence treaty with Canberra.
The Pukpuk Treaty — named after the pidgin word for crocodile — was signed in Canberra on Monday by Mr Marape and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, marking Australia's first new military alliance in more than 70 years.
Designed to "support each other's defence and contribute to a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous," the treaty states that an armed attack on either PNG or Australia would be considered "dangerous to each other's peace and security".
It also commits both countries to "enhancing their partnership to promote and protect the Parties' shared interest in each other's national resilience, sovereignty, prosperity, stability and security".
Speaking on ABC's 7.30 on Monday night, Mr Marape emphasised PNG's sovereignty, saying there was a likelihood his country would remain neutral in any future conflict involving Australia and China. He said the Pukpuk Treaty was "constructed within the fullest ambit of respecting sovereignties" and was about both nations "making their own calls".
"In a conflict, we don't expect Australia to drop everything and run to us," Mr Marape added.
Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday the alliance "reflects our common commitment to a more secure and stable region. Above all, it is founded on the friendship between our peoples".
He said the treaty includes a mutual defence obligation — similar to the ANZUS Treaty — meaning "we declare in the event of an armed attack on either of our country, we would both act to meet the common danger".
The agreement also allows up to 10,000 PNG citizens to serve with the Australian Defence Force. The Australian government says consultations will begin to create a recruitment pathway, with PNG citizens who are permanent residents in Australia eligible to apply from next year.
Mr Marape said any decision to enter a conflict would rest with national leaders and defence forces, adding that he would urge Australia to pursue peace before joining a potential armed conflict between China and the United States.
"Our relationship with Australia will mean that we sit at a decision-making table, and we will say, look, give peace a go, not war," he told 7.30, clarifying that he does not "necessarily see China as an enemy".
"We trade with China, we do business with China, and so there is no need for an alarmist approach in this conversation," he said.
Mr Marape also said the treaty would not compel Australia to intervene if conflict arose on PNG's border with Indonesia, stressing the two countries share a "healthy dialogue".
"I'm 100 per cent certain Indonesia will not be offended," he said.
While the treaty has received bipartisan support in Australia, some opposition members in PNG remain concerned it could distance the country from regional partners — particularly China — given its long-standing foreign policy of "friends to all, enemies to none".
Asked if the agreement could pull PNG into a wider Pacific conflict, Mr Marape said leaders must always consider worst-case scenarios but described the deal as a treaty of peace.
"We maintain friendships to all enemies, we advocate peace in wherever we engage in as far as foreign relations concern," he said.
Mr Marape expanded on this during his 7.30 interview, adding: "What does PNG have to offer right now?
"At the moment, our military capacity is not at a space where we are an active participant."
