The Hon Dr Billy Joseph, MP Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence
The Hon Richard Marles MP, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesian Minister of Defence
Papua New Guinea's Minister for Defence, the Hon. Dr Billy Joseph MP, Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon 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.
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. They shared perspectives on regional defence and security cooperation and noted the breadth of military engagement between three close neighbours.
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.
