US delegation emphasises commitment to Papua New Guinea: summary

What we know

• This week, a high-level delegation of U.S. civilian and military officials travelled to Papua New Guinea, underscoring the United States' dedication to this vital Pacific territory. The visit comes at a time when competition with China for influence in the region is intensifying.
• A White House statement released on Wednesday, July 17, revealed that the visit, which took place from Sunday, July 14 to Tuesday, July 16, focused on expediting the implementation of new projects tied to the Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in the previous year.
• The visit also focused on other key initiatives, including deploying civil affairs and medical teams, addressing the fuel crisis, and supporting the PNG Electrification Project.
• The U.S. delegation included Admiral Samuel Paparo, Mira Rapp-Hooper, Daniel Kritenbrink, and Michael Schiffer, representing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, White House, State Department, and USAID, respectively.
• The U.S. and Australia, long accustomed to viewing the Pacific as their sphere of influence, are now working to prevent island nations from forming security ties with China, following China's security pact with the Solomon Islands in 2022.
• The U.S.-PNG defence pact outlines a 15-year plan to upgrade PNG's ports and airports for joint military and civilian use, but Washington's slow implementation has raised concerns among analysts.

What they said

A part of the White House statement shared by Reuters stated that "The delegation presented a number of new initiatives responsive to Papua New Guinea's most pressing development and security priorities, advancing this critical Pacific partnership."