Billy Joseph

Further information: Australia–Papua New Guinea relations

In April 2024, Joseph began the modernization of the fire services with some to comply with the standards of Queensland. ^[14] During the 2024 Egna Landslides, Australia promised to give $2,300,000 AUD in necessary aid and supplies. ^{[15] [16]}

Billy Joseph (center) with Papua New Guinean, New Zealand, and Australian officials in April 2024.

On February 20, 2025, Joseph and Australian Minister for Defense Richard Marles began discussing a new defense treaty between the two nations due to pressure from Beijing. ^{[17] [18]} In June 2025, Joseph went to Canberra for the 2025 Defense Conference ‘Preparedness and Resilience’ meeting. He went on the Stop the World! Podcast, hosted by ASPI, with the Deputy Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party to discuss the Pukpuk Treaty. ^{[19] [20]} In July 2025, Australian war games were held. Part of the war games were held in PNG, with negotiations for a new military treaty between the two nations underway. ^[21]

On September 13, 2025, Joseph and Marles made an agreement to integrate the Australian and PNG militaries, which was a blow to Chinese influence in the Pacific. ^[22] This coincided with the 50th anniversary of PNG's independence. ^{[23] [24]} The treaty was officially signed on September 15. ^{[25] [26]} On September 19, China responded with a warning claiming that the treaty undermined PNG's own influence. ^[27]

United States

In October 2025, Joseph went to The Pentagon and met with Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, where they discussed opportunities for future engagements and deepening of the security partnership between the U.S and PNG. ^[28]

Fiji

In April 2024, Joseph and Home Affairs Minister of Fiji Pio Tikoduadua discussed re-establishing the defense relationship between PNG and Fiji after Joseph made a visit to the Taskforce Command Headquarters in Nadi, Fiji. ^[29] Joseph had also expressed his interests many times in maintaining strong ties between the two by participating in events like the United Nations and their peacekeeping operations. ^[30]

Japan

On March 19, 2025, Joseph went to The 2nd Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue and met Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara with the goal of improving defense relations with Japan. ^[31]

Indonesia

In July 2025, Joseph visited Jakarta with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to discuss stronger defense ties. They discussed further implementing the Defense Cooperation Agreement, which had been signed in 2010 and ratified by Indonesia in 2012. ^[32]

Singapore

In June 2025, Joseph went to Singapore for the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss security trends. He held bilateral meetings from the sidelines of IISS with representatives of New Zealand, Singapore and Chile. ^[33]

References

1. Admin (19 January 2024). "NEC Appoints Six New Ministers to Cabinet - National Information Center" . Retrieved 23 September 2025.
2. "MINISTER JOSEPH ANNOUNCES MAJOR PROJECTS FOR NIPA-KUTUBU | The PNG Bulletin". The Sunday Bulletin. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
3. "Another doctor in House". The National. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
4. "Another Medical Doctor Enters PNG Parliament". PNG Health Watch. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
5. "Hon Dr Billy M Joseph MP". ASPI. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
6. "Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph, MP - Eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea". www.parliament.gov.pg. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
7. pcAdminPNG (18 January 2024). "Daki out, Dr Joseph in as Defence minister". Post Courier. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
8. Ukuma, Pau (20 February 2026). "New Minister for Defence Hon Dr Billy Joseph, thanks the Marape-Rosso Government and outlines Priorities for Defence". The PNG Bulletin. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
9. "More than 700 villagers in PNG's Southern Highlands affected by flooding". RNZ. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
10. "Formally asking for help, Papua New Guinea says Friday's landslide buried more than 2,000 people". PBS News. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
11. "'We cannot live here': Australian ministers visit PNG landslide zone". SBS News. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
12. "Chinese government reinforces support with relief supplies to PNG". NBC PNG. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
13. National, The (19 September 2025). "'Operation Planti Balus' in August | The National" . Retrieved 21 September 2025.
14. Kia, Lendo (21 April 2024). "PNG Fire Service To Be Modernized, says Defence Minister Joseph - National Information Center" . Retrieved 20 February 2026.
15. "'We cannot live here': Australian ministers visit PNG landslide zone". SBS News. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
16. Faa, Marian (20 June 2024). "Australia to provide $2 million in extra funding to assist with PNG's landslide recovery". ABC News. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
17. "Australia, Papua New Guinea vow to strike defense treaty". Voice of America. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
18. "Australia and PNG to begin negotiations on new defence treaty". ABC News. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
19. "Papua New Guinea Defence Minister Billy Joseph on the march towards a security treaty". ASPI. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
20. "PNG AND AUSTRALIA DISCUSS DEFENCE TREATY". www.pngbusinessnews.com. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
21. Palmer, Joseph (20 February 2025). "PNG to partly host Australia's biggest war games amid Pacific security push". Sky News Australia. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
22. McIlroy, Tom (16 September 2025). "Australia and PNG will agree to defend each other from military attack as China's Pacific influence grows". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 September 2025.
23. "Australia and PNG's militaries to become 'totally integrated'". ABC News. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
24. "Albanese says Australia-PNG defence treaty on par with US and New Zealand". SBS News. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
25. Doherty, Ben (23 August 2025). "'Diplomatic knife fight' over PNG enters new phase with deepening Australia defence deal". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 September 2025.
26. "After Five Decades, It Comes To This: The PNG-Australia Pukpuk Treaty | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
27. "China Warns Papua New Guinea Over Australian Defense Deal". The Defense Post. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
28. "Readout of Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie's Meeting". U.S. Department of War. Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
29. Reddy, Navnesh (14 April 2024). "Fiji, PNG renew defence ties". The Fiji Times. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
30. Reporter, Staff. "PNG, Fiji Military Leaders Meet to Strengthen Defence Cooperation". One Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
31. "Japan-Papua Niugini Minister's Meeting". Japan Ministry of Defense. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
32. "Indonesia, Papua New Guinea eye stronger defense ties". Antara News. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
33. "Minister attends security conference | The National". 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.

External links

• Ministerial Handover Takeover
• ASPI Podcast

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Billy Joseph
Joseph in August 2025
Minister of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force
Incumbent
Assumed office January 19, 2024