A U.S. interagency delegation comprising of senior members of the National Security Council staff, the Departments of State and Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) traveled to Papua New Guinea, July 14-16, 2024, for meetings with senior Papua New Guinea officials focused on deepening our bilateral relationship, including through the US-PNG Defense Cooperation Agreement. The delegation presented a number of new initiatives responsive to Papua New Guinea's most pressing development and security priorities, advancing this critical Pacific partnership.
The delegation underscored U.S. commitment to PNG through new and sustained initiatives in a whole-of-government approach to: accelerate implementation of new projects linked to the Defense Cooperation Agreement; deployment of civil affairs and medical training teams to Papua New Guinea; work to help resolve the ongoing fuel crisis through government and private sector initiatives; support to PNG's efforts to boost its electricity connectivity through the PNG Electrification Project; partnerships to enhance disaster preparedness and response; grants to increase professional development and educational exchanges; projects to improve community stability, including law enforcement capacity building and support for the prevention and response of gender-based violence through the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability; and unprecedented Foreign Military Financing to enhance the capabilities of the PNG Defense Force.
The delegation of interagency partners included Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania; Daniel Kritenbrink, Department of State Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Michael Schiffer, U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia; and Anka Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, joined by U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and the Republic of Vanuatu Ann Marie Yastishock, representing the full scope of U.S. efforts in diplomacy, development, and defense to advance the U.S.-PNG strategic partnership based on shared history and values.
