Papua New Guinea is committed to strengthening its bilateral relationship with the United States in the coming years, with Prime Minister James Marape expressing confidence in future cooperation under the leadership of President-elect Donald Trump.
PM Marape made the statement while congratulating Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States.
Trump’s return to the White House, following his victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, marks a new chapter in US-PNG relations, Marape said.
He also extended his gratitude to outgoing US President Joe Biden and his administration for contributions to PNG’s development, particularly in healthcare, sustainable development, and security.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Papua New Guinea, I extend heartfelt congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his election as President. We look forward to reinforcing the longstanding partnership between our nations, grounded in shared values and mutual respect,” Marape said.
He cited the partnership forged with the Biden administration, particularly key milestone like the signing of the 2023 Defense Cooperation strengthening regional security, which reinforced both countries shared goals for regional stability and security.
"We thank President Biden for his commitment to fostering cooperation between the United States and Papua New Guinea, which has bolstered our progress in healthcare, security, and sustainable development,” the prime minister said.
Marape cited a pivotal moment during the Trump administration when US Vice President Mike Pence visited Port Moresby for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2018, “and that was the first time ever the Indo-Mozambique conversation was pronounced."
He underscored the strategic importance of PNG in the Indo-Pacific for its central location, saying the country is in the heart and soul of the regional space.
"You can't go west from the east without passing through PNG, as far as the Indo-Pacific space is concerned. You can't go north or south without passing through PNG. This makes PNG a critical player in regional discussions and future initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.”
Looking ahead to Trump's second term, Marape expressed confidence that the PNG-US bilateral relationship would deepen.
"We look forward to working with President Trump upon his ascent to office on January 20th next year. The work between our two administrations will continue and expand, especially in economic cooperation."
In the interim, Marape highlighted the ongoing transition period and the strong ties between PNG and the US under President Biden, and to upcoming opportunities for collaboration. One such opportunity is the arrival of a group of American investors later in November as part of a broader effort to diversify and strengthen PNG’s economy.
“We are also a place for manufacturing, construction, downstream processing, and other technology-based businesses," Marape stated, emphasizing PNG’s appeal as an investment destination.
"In my work over the last five years, we have not just run foreign relations; deeply embedded in that is our economic agenda to grow our economy and seek investors. That level of conversation will flow deeper with the US Trump administration next year."
The Prime Minister also noted the broader context of global investment flows, and that PNG seeks investments from across Asia and other regions.
“As we move into this new chapter, Papua New Guinea is committed to strengthening its relationship with the United States to pursue our shared goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable growth within the Pacific region and beyond,” he said.
