Indonesia-PNG-Australia Defence Meeting Highlights Common Security Partnership

Port Moresby: Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Defence, Dr Billy Joseph MP, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles MP, and Indonesia’s Minister of Defence General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, met today in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, for their inaugural Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Ministers welcomed the development of the trilateral partnership, built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a collective vision for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

“Ministers reflected on the signing of the PNG-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty (Pukpuk Treaty), and the substantive conclusion of negotiations on an Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, and their contribution to the peace, stability and security of our shared region,” said statement from the ministers, as quoted from Australia Embassy releases, Wednesday, 3 December 2025. 

“Ministers welcomed this opportunity to discuss defence cooperation between the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces,” added the statement.

“They shared perspectives on regional defence and security cooperation and noted the breadth of military engagement between three close neighbours,” the statement said.

The three ministers explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and aviation best practice.

Ministers agreed to holding the trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting annually, with Indonesia agreeing to host the forum in 2026.