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As of September 17, 2025, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have signed a defence communique but postponed the formal signing of a landmark mutual defence treaty. The treaty, elevating their security ties to the level Australia holds with the US and New Zealand, awaits cabinet approvals in both countries. The pact integrates defence forces, allows military service across borders, and offers PNG nationals a pathway to Australian citizenship, amid efforts to counter China's growing Pacific influence.
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Australia's environment minister has approved a 40-year extension of the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia, despite Indigenous and environmental opposition. Conditions include emissions reductions and heritage protections, but critics warn the expansion risks damaging UNESCO-listed Aboriginal rock art and worsening climate impacts, drawing international legal and regional criticism.
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Papua New Guinea and Australia announced a delay in signing a proposed security treaty, citing cabinet processes. The treaty, meant to formalize a mutual defense pact, was initially expected to be signed during PNG's independence anniversary but is now pending approval in both countries. The delay highlights regional security complexities amid Chinese influence concerns.
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Morocco and Sierra Leone have ratified the UN treaty on marine biodiversity, bringing the total to 143 countries. The treaty aims to protect two-thirds of the ocean from threats like overfishing and deep-sea mining. It will take effect in January 2026, establishing rules for conservation and benefit-sharing in international waters.
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On October 6, 2025, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed the Pukpuk Treaty, their first mutual defense pact in 70 years, elevating their relationship to a formal alliance. The treaty commits both nations to mutual defense, integrates their militaries, and allows PNG citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force. The pact aims to strengthen regional security amid rising Chinese influence in the Pacific.
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On November 22, 2025, the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, concluded with a deal urging accelerated climate action and tripling adaptation finance by 2035. However, the agreement omitted a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap amid opposition from major oil producers, sparking criticism from many nations and climate advocates.