When Anthony Albanese landed in Papua New Guinea for celebrations marking 50 years of independence this week, he was expecting to sign a landmark mutual defence agreement and designate the one-time colony as a formal ally of Australia.

Instead, despite insisting the text of the agreement had been approved, the prime minister left Port Moresby on Wednesday with only a 300-word joint communique signed with his counterpart, James Marape.

Exactly why the defence agreement, known as a Pukpuk treaty, fell over with Marape’s cabinet isn’t clear. Anthony Albanese fails to seal defence treaty between Australia and PNG Read more

Ministers reportedly have concerns about PNG’s sovereignty under provisions in the deal, and China’s expansionist approach is shifting relationships across the Paci

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