The refurbishment of a key naval base and joint initiatives with Australia and the United States underscore Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) enhanced defense posture.
The upgrades to the PNG Defence Force’s (PNGDF) Lombrum Naval Base, which U.S. forces can access under the nations’ Defense Cooperation Agreement, are evidence of the growing ties among the three partners. Other developments include expanded military exercises and training, and a proposed defense pact between Australia and PNG that would allow each nation’s troops to serve in the other’s forces.
The increasing bilateral and trilateral engagements come amid Beijing’s push to expand its influence in the Pacific Islands.
In March 2025, a U.S. Security Assistance Training Command (SATCO) team deployed to PNG for a monthlong mission focusing on strengthening the PNGDF’s medical and small-unit tactical capabilities. Previous SATCO missions to the island nation focused on infantry tactics, armorer skills and medical support, the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier newspaper reported.
During the recent mission, SATCO personnel also observed air infiltration training by the PNGDF’s 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment and coordinated with PNG and New Zealand forces on enhancing medical instruction.
The deployment followed the arrival of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Midgett in the PNG capital, Port Moresby, under the nations’ maritime law enforcement agreement, known as a shiprider, according to the U.S. Embassy. The mission will enhance maritime security, particularly against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is a major threat to coastal communities’ livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the Australian Defence Force and the PNGDF are strengthening cooperation via training initiatives that began with the officer corps and will expand in 2025 to combined arms training.
The nations’ proposed defense treaty, announced in February 2025, would expand training, joint exercises and disaster response, The Australian newspaper reported. The agreement underscores Australia’s role as PNG’s key security partner amid shifting regional dynamics.
“We have consciously made a decision to choose who should be our friends,” PNG Defence Minister Dr. Billy Joseph said at the time.
IMAGE CREDIT: AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
The redevelopment of Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, one of the region’s largest naval facilities, includes new training areas and accommodation, medical infrastructure and support facilities for Guardian-class patrol boats. The project will boost the PNGDF’s capacity to secure the island nation’s more than 2.4 million-square-kilometer exclusive economic zone.
The Australia-funded $150 million project began in 2020. In 2024, Washington announced plans to invest up to $25 million on facilities at Lombrum, including a new maritime training center and an upgraded jetty, the U.S. Naval Institute reported.
The base is one of six PNG sites to which U.S. personnel have access under the nations’ defense agreement, which permits joint use but not permanent basing. Lombrum’s strategic location supports regional maritime security, including IUU fishing patrols.
The redevelopment aligns with the U.S. Defense Department’s Pacific Deterrence Initiative to expand military infrastructure across Oceania, including ports and airfields.
