Prime Minister James Marape has commended the inaugural Tri-Nation Defence Ministers’ Meeting between Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia, describing it as a landmark step toward strengthening regional unity and stability across the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking on behalf of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and himself, Marape praised the Defence Ministers for advancing unprecedented cooperation among the three neighbouring states. He said the trilateral engagement reflects the enduring reality of geography, with PNG positioned at the crossroads of the South, East, and West Pacific.