Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles will be hosting his counterpart from Papua New Guinea, Win Bakri Daki, with a view to forming a new defence security agreement.
This defence pact was initially intended to be signed by the middle of 2023, before a separate agreement between the U.S and PNG sparked internal divisions in the Pacific nation.
The American agreement with PNG put negotiations for an Australian defence treaty on hold.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and PNG Defence Minister, Win Barki Daki, sign a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
AAP reports Mr Marles saying that Canberra and Port Moresby shared a unique and deep defence relationship that was underpinned by close people-to-people ties.
"But we can always do more together," he said ahead of hosting Daki in Geelong on Thursday.
"I look forward to discussing ways to deepen our close partnership."
Discussions will focus on the defence relationship, including regional military exercises and broader regional security agreements.
They will also include continued support for PNG's "sovereign defence capabilities", as well as humanitarian support following a volcanic eruption.
An Australian Minister has also overseen the official handover of a new Guardian-class patrol boat to Mr Daki in Western Australia.
These boats will be used to tackle illegal and unreported fishing and to undertake surveillance activities.
Australia has made a number of these vessels available to its Pacific neighbours.
- AAP
