Australia and Papua New Guinea agreed to conclude negotiations over a comprehensive security agreement by April with hopes of a treaty signing by June following a meeting between the leaders of both countries in Port Moresby on Thursday.
The proposed Bilateral Security Treaty, which both parties committed to finish negotiating by April 30, will cover defence, with discussions underway over troop training and joint operations, in addition to issues like climate change and cyber security.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the economic and security interests of the Pacific neighbours were "indivisible", hours after being the first foreign leader to address Papua New Guinea's parliament.
