Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will travel to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands from August 16-17, meeting PNG Prime Minister James Marape and new Defence Minister Elias Kapavore to discuss implementation of the Pukpuk Treaty, which took effect in July 2026. He will also meet Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale and help open the Western Border Outpost in the Shortland Islands, a joint Australia-Solomon Islands facility housing police, customs, immigration and biosecurity officials.
Marles is quoted calling the visit an opportunity to advance "shared security interests" and stressing that Pacific security should be "led by Pacific nations." The trip follows recent exchanges including Wale's May visit to Australia and Albanese and Wong's July visit to Solomon Islands.
The full dispatch is available from the source below.