Can Papua New Guinea Help Australia Deter Chinese Aggression in the Indo-Pacific?

Australia’s closest and potentially most important ally isn’t half a world away — it’s right on our doorstep. Just four kilometres from Queensland lies Papua New Guinea, a nation with deep cultural ties to Australia and growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific.In this video, we break down the emerging Australia–PNG partnership and what it means for both countries. From the landmark Pukpuk Defence Treaty and the inclusion of a PNG team in the NRL, to new opportunities through the PALM labour mobility scheme, this is about more than aid or diplomacy. It’s about creating a true partnership — one that strengthens security, builds skills, and ties our nations closer together.We’ll also look at the challenges: the treaty still isn’t signed, China is leaning in hard, and Canberra may need to offer more — like expanded migration and training opportunities — to seal the deal.Could PNG become Australia’s closest ally, and a model for how we engage with the entire Pacific? Let’s talk tactics.Chapters0:00 Our Closest Ally01:37 The Pukpuk Defence Treaty05:16 Rugby League Diplomacy07:00 The PALM Scheme07:37 PALM: Offshore Training08:36 PALM: A Structured Palm Expansion09:29 PALM: Employer and Regional Benefits10:20 PALM: Development and Integration Outcomes11:08 PALM: How It Fits12:01 The Strategic Payoff13:04 The Pacific Model🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more deep dives on strategy, defence, and Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific.---Like the 3D printed models in the background? They were provided by Spack.au and Talking Tactics viewers can get 5% off the Camouflage Models range by using the following link: https://shorturl.at/tANN5Discount will be applied at checkout after using this link and placing an order. ---Talking Tactics delivers an informed and progressive look into new world Business, Finance, Politics, Infrastructure, Defence, Technology and Current Events. Talking Tactics is presented by Mel Pikos, Managing Director of TACTIC. TACTIC is an end to end solution for all your commercial office space needs including Workplace Strategy | Leasing Advisory | Workplace Design | Furniture Advisory | Fitout Construction. To increase the productivity of your office whilst strategically minimising costs, visit www.tactic.au or send an email to [e-mail] with us on our socials:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/talkingtacticswithmelpikosTalking Tactics with Mel Pikos on FacebookTactic Spaces on Facebook@mel_pikos on Twitter@melppikos on Instagram@melpikos on TikTok