<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="_blank" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> was firm that Australia would proceed to sign a historic defence treaty with Papua New Guinea, despite the agreement failing to be certifed today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese travelled to Port Moresby today to meet with PNG Prime Minister James Marape, with broad expectations the two countries would sign a treaty.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the final agreement remains on hold, though Marape said it was still in progress and being examined by the PNG cabinet.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-sprays-abc-reporter-over-hurting-australia/c8722ca3-cd47-4fe4-90af-6c791665e334" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump threatens Aussie reporter for 'hurting Australia'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marape said Australia remained "head and shoulders" above any other international partner of PNG and was the country's security partner of choice.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The communique to be signed today "depicts us becoming security partners as we go forward in the future", Marape said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I put on record, it was not an Australian proposal. Australia never asked for this. I want to say thank you very much, my brother," Marape said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-james-marape-papua-new-guinea-defence-agreement/cee89a7f-452c-4a96-9812-475b7a8dacee" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/robert-redford-dead-actor-director-activist-dies-aged-89/9427ebcd-1d60-46e9-98be-99ae9a1d375a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hollywood heartthrob Robert Redford dies, aged 89</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese said the text of the treaty had been agreed on, and would be signed after cabinet processes in both countries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This treaty will elevate our relationship to the status of an alliance," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It will be Australia's first new alliance in more than 70 years, and only the third in our entire history, along with the ANZUS treaty with New Zealand and the United States."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The "agreed-on" text includes a mutual defence clause.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-charged-aggravated-murder-death-penalty-sought/400a4d1f-b702-4572-a3dd-8e202d3a16e2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Suspected Charlie Kirk shooter in line to pay ultimate penalty</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Between the end of WWII and 1975, the land that is now Papua New Guinea was under Australian control.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Part of the current country was a British colonial possession from 1880, and an Australian one from 1902, with the other portion of the country controlled by Germany.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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