The US is set to sign strategic pacts with Papua New Guinea and Micronesia next week, as Washington seeks to shore up support among Pacific island countries to counter competition from China. Papua New Guinea’s prime minister, Jamas Marape, confirmed that his country’s agreements with the US would be signed when Joe Biden becomes the first sitting US president to visit the Pacific nation on 22 May.
Marape confirmed on Tuesday that two security agreements will be signed, on defence cooperation and maritime surveillance. “These signings will add value to our domestic security, as well as strengthen our own military, our police, our navy,” he told radio station 100FM. Marape said his government would provide details on the security agreements on Thursday.
