Australia and Papua New Guinea have inked a new treaty that will see ADF recruitment open to PNG nationals.
The ADF will begin recruiting PNG nationals to join its ranks from November 26, following the signing of an historic mutual defence treaty.
The first recruits will commence service from 2027 and, once eligible to do so, must apply to become an Australian citizen.
Minister for Defence Richard Marles said the signing of the Pukpuk Treaty in October was designed to secure a capable, resilient, and interoperable Alliance.
He added that the deal would see citizens from both nations serve “shoulder-to-shoulder” and was a tangible demonstration of a shared vision for a peaceful Indo-Pacific in which sovereignty is respected.