Australia plans to recruit 100 Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by the end of 2027, marking the initial phase of a broader recruitment strategy under the Pukpuk mutual defence treaty between the two countries. Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Papua New Guinea counterpart Elias Kapavore are set to announce the recruitment target on Tuesday during the annual Australia-Papua New Guinea ministerial forum in Port Moresby.
The recruitment drive will primarily target university graduates, although high-achieving school leavers may also be considered. While Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has previously suggested that up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans could eventually join the ADF, Australian officials have emphasized that recruitment will proceed at a cautious and measured pace.
This year’s ministerial forum, attended by nine Australian ministers including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy, highlights the strengthening defence and diplomatic ties between the two nations. Alongside defence recruitment discussions, ministers will also focus on enhancing telecommunications and critical infrastructure development in Papua New Guinea.
The forum will feature the unveiling of the Australian government-funded Papua New Guinea Chiefs National Rugby League team’s new logo and jersey, with Sports and Communications Minister Anika Wells attending the event.
Minister Marles noted that the groundwork for implementing the Pukpuk treaty, which includes establishing pathways for Papua New Guineans to join the ADF, has been underway for the past year. While about 40 Papua New Guinean residents in Australia have applied to join the Defence Force, formal arrangements to recruit candidates directly from Papua New Guinea have only recently been finalized.
He described the pilot recruitment program as deliberately modest to ensure proper processes before scaling up the initiative. “The pilot program will have smaller numbers to begin with, to ensure the right processes are in place ahead of further expansion to develop a program that is sustainable and provides enduring value for both Australia and PNG,” Marles said.
The introduction of Papua New Guinean recruits into the ADF is seen as a significant milestone for both nations and their shared strategic alliance under the Pukpuk treaty.