The close defence partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia has been reinforced following the successful completion of the Australia-based phase of Exercise Wantok Warrior 2026.

Soldiers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s (PNGDF) Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR) joined personnel from the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade for the exercise in Townsville, Queensland, where they trained alongside Exercise Southern Jackaroo to strengthen combat skills, teamwork and interoperability.

The joint training focused on small-team tactics, battlefield decision-making and operating in challenging environments. Soldiers conducted exercises involving tactical movement, threat identification, responses under pressure, and trench and bunker clearance drills.

The exercise provided an important opportunity for PNG and Australian personnel to strengthen professional relationships, share knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of each other’s operational methods, enhancing their ability to work together during future exercises and regional operations.

PNGDF Lieutenant Emolle Ryan from 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, said the training was both challenging and rewarding.

“For many of us, this is our first time working in ASLAVs [Australian Light Armoured Vehicles], and it’s been an incredible learning experience,” Lieutenant Ryan said.

He said the strong partnership between the two forces was evident throughout the exercise.

“We’re just happy to be here. It’s a privilege and we’re pretty humbled to be with the 2CAV guys. They’ve been superb and we’re really enjoying our time here,” he said.

A significant milestone during Exercise Wantok Warrior was the PNGDF’s first participation in a multinational mortar live-fire activity, marking a major step forward in capability development and interoperability training.

PNGDF Colonel Boniface Aruma, Deputy Commander of the Australian Army’s 3rd Brigade, said witnessing the achievement was a memorable moment.

“The live fire was significant because it is the first time in the history of the PNGDF that its mortars were able to participate in a multinational live-fire exercise on foreign soil,” Colonel Aruma said.

“I have been in the PNGDF now for over 30 years and I have never seen PNGDF mortars in action. In fact, I thought I would never see the mortars on the mortar line. So, it was quite emotional for me to see this capability brought back to life.”

Colonel Aruma said the exercise provided an important platform for the PNGDF to develop greater understanding of how to integrate and operate with partner nations.

“This exercise is a very crucial platform to opening the scope and enabling the PNGDF to understand how to integrate and operate with other likeminded partner nations,” he said.

Exercise Wantok Warrior highlights the enduring defence relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia, which has entered a new phase under the Pukpuk Treaty.

The treaty elevates the bilateral defence relationship to an alliance and provides a framework for deeper cooperation in areas including training, capability development, security and regional stability.

The next phase of Exercise Wantok Warrior will be conducted in Papua New Guinea in October.